Grant enables Lighthouse Community Centre to become fully accessible

A £1,000 grant from the Caradon Area Community FundA sum of money made available for grant making, often with specific criteria/conditions. has enabled Lighthouse Community Centre CIC to install a stairlift, making its first-floor services accessible to everyone in the community.

After moving into bigger premises, Lighthouse Community Centre rapidly expanded its services to keep up with local need. Its first floor is home to mental health link workers, a homeless drop-in, an employment specialist, music therapy, Normal Magic family work, a children’s and youth room and a gym. However, clients with disabilities or limited mobility were unable to reach any of these because of the stairs. Some had to meet support workers in the centre’s busy public café, while others could not access the services at all.

The centre also hoped to host a Breathers group, but 85% of its 20 members were unable to manage the stairs.

The new stairlift has made the whole building fully accessible. People who were previously excluded can now take part in groups, activities and appointments on an equal footing, in a more suitable environment than the café downstairs. The centre has seen more people with mobility challenges, as well as older visitors, attending classes, events and appointments with its support workers and Mental Health Link Workers.

Lighthouse Community Centre told us:

“This grant has greatly increased independence and confidence among users who were otherwise not able to attend or had to endure groups being run in our busy public café. As a result participation has grown, groups are being held in a more suitable environment and a stronger sense of inclusion and belonging has developed within our community.”

Case study: Claire suffered a life-changing illness in December 2021, which left her unable to go upstairs at Lighthouse Community Centre. She said: “Having the stairlift installed just under a year ago has made a MASSIVE difference to my life as I am now able to access the upstairs of the Lighthouse Community Centre as and when I need to.”

For more information about Lighthouse Community Centre, visit them here.

About the Funder

The Caradon Area Community fund is a legacy fund for community projectsA piece of work that delivers an output. in South East Cornwall.

If you are a community group looking for funding, please view our available grants.

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