A community group in Salford that has been a lifeline for lonely elderly people and vulnerable youth for 22 years may close in September after failing to secure grant funding for the first time.
Funding crisis threatens activities
The Lower Kersal Young People and Community Group runs almost daily activities including coffee mornings, film screenings, line dancing for the elderly, and allotments, outings, cooking classes, laser quest, and mini-golf for all ages, including young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The charity was previously funded by the National Lottery but lost out in the bidding process this year and expects funds to run out before the end of 2026.
Sean Massey, who manages the organisation, said: “We’ve been getting little bits to survive, but if we don’t get anything soon, September might be our last month. That would mean everything goes. In September as well, the rent for our building is due to doubling from £8,000 to £16,000.”
Devastating impact on elderly
Volunteers and visitors say the closure would be devastating for the area’s elderly. Gail Barrett, 77, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We’d be very upset if this goes. There’s nothing else like this, no community spaces. There’s not much around here anymore, no pubs or anything. It really is a lifeline for people, especially those that are on their own.”
Another visitor, Ms Jones, who cares for her daughter full-time, said: “Without this, you’re isolated. This morning I walked out of my house and got a taxi here because I knew staying at home would make my mental health suffer. I’m in a really dark place at the moment, but in here I know I’m okay.”
Support for cancer patients
Jane Wilson, 67, a retired nurse who moved to the area just over a year ago and was diagnosed with breast cancer, said: “This group has just been fantastic. As soon as I came in they said ‘we’ve been there, we’ve run that race’. They’re here for you. It’s just such a source of support. Sometimes I’m too tired to come because of the chemo – and the next week everyone will be asking where you were. People really care about each other here.”
Political support
MP Christian Wakeford has praised the group and is seeking clarity on why they lost National Lottery funding. He said: “The group undertakes a vast amount of work with young people and older people in the area, work that is not done by local authority or the government and without it, Kersal would be poorer for it. I understand that the group has been the recipient of long-term funding by the National Lottery via the Reaching Communities fund. However, the funding is due to expire in September. As such I’ve reached out to National Lottery to get clarification on the funding criteria. This fund is a lifeline to a community group which supports vulnerable young people and residents in one of the most deprived parts of Greater Manchester.”
The organisation accepts donations via its website and welcomes donated goods to support cooking classes and coffee mornings.
