Home owner starts appeal to help stay open

A desperate care home owner has launched a GoFundMe appeal to raise emergency funds during the coronavirus crisis.

Glyn Williams fears skyrocketing costs will force him to close Gwyddfor Residential Home in Bodedern in Anglesey.

Without an urgent cash injection, the 28-bed home will have to shut down in less than a month, he said.

Its monthly wage bill has soared by £7,000 since extra staff were recruited to help work longer shifts and to cover colleagues in isolation.

To cope, Glyn approach his bank for an interest-free loan as care homes don’t qualify for government grants.

He then set a £33,000 target for his GoFundMe appeal - and within hours the total had hit £5,000.

Glyn said he had been “overwhelmed” by the response.

“The simple truth is we are in dire straits as things stand,” he said.

“Last month I was unable to pay my HMRC PAYE bill and I won’t be able to pay the next bill unless we get help.

“We are already using what cash reserves we have. We really are desperate and at our wit’s end.

“We are determined to keep this virus out but we need help.”

Appeal money will be used to buy additional Personal Protective Equipment and lay on extra activities for residents.

Crucially it will also enable Glyn to pay the real living wage of £9.30 an hour to all staff members, including trainees.

All were responding “magnificently and heroically” to the challenge and he is keen to reward their dedication.

Before buying his care home, Glyn spent 25 years in the RAF where he was trained in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare.

He has used this expertise to prepare Gwyddfor for the looming onslaught.

Two army mess tents have been brought in to convert the home’s atrium into a three-stage decontamination facility.

A new three-day on, three-day off rota has been drawn up so that staff can move into the home if the situation escalates.

A training room is being converted into a dormitory.

“One risk we needed to minimise was footfall through the front door - it was a major hazard,” said Glyn.

“We have to protect residents and if it means total isolation from the outside world then that’s what we will do.”

To contribute to Gwyddfor’s appeal, visit its GoFundMe page.