Aged, Blind and Disabled Centre (Bacup) Charitable Trust
A team of professional trustees who are committed to ensuring The ABD Centre is for the benefit of the people of Bacup and wider Rossendale.
Some of our trustees with Cllr Jackie Oakes (Mayor of Rossendale) celebrating the Open Day - July 2021.
In 2003 a group of dedicated people came together to form a registered charity to be able to take a lease from the council on the former liberal club to continue to deliver community services. The centre was home to Rossendale Blind Society, WRVS, Womens Guild, Inskip, Age Concern and other charitable organisations providing much needed services of people in the community. Since 2003 the trustees contniue to ensure the centre provides affordable / sustainable resources to contniue to provide a base for organisations to operate from.
Recently trustees have secured and committed significant funding to ensure the centre continue to be 'the heart of the community'.
In 2019 The ABD secured funding from The National Lottery for three years to develop the centre. This funding provided a centre developemnt manager, caretaker and capital funding to make the building accessible. With staff in place from January 2021, trustees were able to look at other grants to help refurbish the building.
Two grants from Lancashire Environmental Fund allowed the replacement of the heatinig system.
A grant from Reaps Moss provided funding for stage lighting.
A grant from Arnold Clark provided resources for our kitchen.
Rossendale Borough Council Community Grant funded a CCTV system.
ASDA Foundation provided a grant for bringing communiies back together on our open day.
Donations from a local business Ava's Dream, from Tesco Champions, Morrisions Community Champion and ASDA Community Champion funded a pilot 'Friendly Cuppa Club'.
We have also had very kind donations of equipment from several people in our fantastic community, thank you!
More recently we trustees have secured capital funding and a match from reserves to refurbish windows, doors and all WC's from Heritage Action Zone (Hitoric England, Rossendale Borough Council, Buttress Architects and Rosslee Construction.
Its been a busy 2021!