‘We couldn’t have asked for more – thank you all’

Maidstone Mencap has raised the roof at its home at Cobtree Hall – literally.

The charity, which provides a lifeline to parents of children with special and complex needs, began a campaign 18 months ago asking for help in funding more than £100,000 of repairs to fix the crumbling building which has been its base for the past 48 years.

Mencap runs play groups, holiday and youth clubs for youngsters from across Maidstone, Malling and the Weald at the 150-year-old building in Mote Park, also offering respite care for families.

But due to its age, the leaking roof and guttering of the former church needed to be completely replaced, with repairs also required to the timbers and stonework, which had blown due to damp.

Manager Liane Morris told the Kent Messenger that the repairs were vital to keep the services running. Now, thanks to a mixture of grants and fundraising, the repairs are coming to an end.

Sarah Heath, centre co-ordinator, said: “We are pleased that due to the efforts of AT Palmer Ltd and the generosity of Lloyd Bore the total project cost will come in under budget. We couldn’t have asked for more.”

A spokesman for AT Palmer Ltd added: “The old building has been brought back to life with a facelift that will see it through for many more years to come. We wish Maidstone Mencap Charitable Trust every success for the future in the valuable work that they do.”