Crossroads’ Day Services Centre has been fully-refurbished to better support people with needs and staff members.

The charity has opened the doors to its £32,000 refurbished centre in Masham Court, in Victoria Avenue, Douglas, with the help of several island organisations and the Manx Lottery Trust.

The works included upgrading bathroom facilities to better suit people with disabilities and age-related needs, plus a new storage room and staff room was completed in December.

Through its Small Grants Programme, Manx Lottery Trust provided funding of £2,500 towards the refurbishments.

The Boshier-Hinton Foundation, the Lockington Marshall Fund, the Screwfix Foundation, Tesco Bags of Help and the Elizabeth Clucas Charitable Trust, as well as discounted fixtures from Cu-Plas Callow also provided financial aid.

Crossroads provides support to carers and people with care needs.

It offers respite to give them time away from their caring role to just be themselves.

Masham Court hosts a social club, a ’Building Bridges’ group and Crossroads Young Carers. Other groups, such as Girl Guides, also use the facilities.

There are more than 1,000 young carers in the island and, according to the charity, every one of us has a three in five chance of becoming a carer during our lifetime.

Crossroads chief executive, Jackie Betteridge, said: ’The services we offer at Masham Court are a lifeline for the many people we support, so ensuring the facilities are fit-for-purpose is so important.

Carers

’It often shocks people when they hear how many people within our community are carers for family members and loved ones and being depended on like this can be a real challenge, with carers often getting no, or very little time for themselves.

’Having a support network which provides people to talk to, respite care and friends who are experiencing the same challenges is key.

’We’re extremely grateful to Manx Lottery Trust for supporting our charity, as well as to the other people and organisations who have helped with this project.

’Only through generous support like this are we able to run these services.’

Manx Lottery Trust Chairman Sarah Kelly added: ’We’re pleased to have supported Crossroads with the refurbishment of their service centre in Douglas.

’The work they do is so important and touches the lives of so many in our community. Any one of us can become a carer, so knowing that help is at hand is fantastic.’

The Manx Lottery Trust is a delegated partner of the National Lottery Community Fund, responsible for awarding Lottery grants to community projects in the Isle of Man.

Over the past 30 years, the Trust has awarded more than £8 million to projects across the Island.

Manx Lottery Trust’s Smaller Grant Programme provides community funding between £300 and £2,500. Information can be found at: www.mlt.org.im/grant-programmes.