Rother Valley Together: Group vows to continue support despite funding cuts

In early 2021 the club found out West Sussex County Council would no longer be providing funding.

Margaret Guest, chair and founder RVT trustee, said: “We were very disappointed but determined to continue.

“As trustees we are so proud of our brilliant staff team and loyal volunteers and their commitment to our members and to keeping the club open.

“When members put on record comments such as ‘If I did not have the club, I would be very lonely and unhappy’ keep going and find the money’.”

A spokesperson for West Sussex County Council said: “Social isolation among older people across the whole of West Sussex is a serious concern. We actively work with partners to enable as many people as possible to lead happy, healthy and independent lives.

“We changed the way we allocate the limited funding available to give an equal distribution, directly linked to the number and circumstances of older people in each district and borough.

“Rother Valley Together has provided fantastic support to people living in Midhurst and the surrounding area for many years and we were disappointed to hear they felt unable to meet our current commissioning criteria.

“We are pleased that they continue to provide activities using money from their other sources of funding.”

The club was founded in 2011 and in 2014 it moved to the Grange where it continues to provide a range of activities, hot cooked lunches and regular outings.

Margaret said: “As a local community we were determined to find a way of supporting our more vulnerable older people.