Dochas Centre celebrates Calor cash
Carers and volunteers gathered in the Dochas Centre on Thursday August 2 to celebrate the successful bid for their £5,000 grant from Calor.
Dochas can now create the safe space it wants in a new building after receiving important grant funding. It is one of just five UK groups to be awarded cash through the Calor Rural Community Fund.
The £5,000 grant will go towards installing hospital standard non-slip flooring in an extension currently being added to its Lochgilphead premises.
Volunteers and carers shared drinks and chatter and talked of their experience with the centre.
Jean Sayers said: ‘The Dochas Centre means companionship. Although I’m not a carer, I do care about how people are so this is a way of checking in, meeting friends and enjoying good company.’
Margaret McGlynn added: ‘There is a lot of care and if you’re in trouble or have questions, they will help you.’
Success in the Calor programme only came about through the support of the public, who were able to vote for their favourite project. The top 10 vote-winners were whittled down by an independent panel to reach the final five successful projects. Catherine Paterson of the Dochas Centre said: ‘Thank you to everyone who voted for us because that is what helped us get there.’
The Dochas Centre offers help and support to people caring for others and is celebrating its 20th birthday in 2018.