St Helena is having to consider all options for how it can most effectively and efficiently look after local people facing incurable illness and bereavement now and in the future within limited resources.

This includes considering the future of its Day Therapies centre in Clacton. Whilst a final decision has not yet been taken on its future, the Board of Trustees of St Helena is seeking planning permission for the development of the Tendring Centre on Jackson Road into a mix of residential and leisure use. If planning permission were granted, and St Helena could be confident of achieving a good price, then it would close the Tendring Centre at the end of March 2019 in order to sell it.

St Helena would continue to run Day Therapies and Bereavement Support groups and clinics in Tendring but use other premises.

Mark Jarman-Howe, Chief Executive of St Helena, said:

“This is a challenging time for hospices and care providers. St Helena is facing growing demand for its care and support, the fundraising environment is more competitive than ever, and there is uncertainty over future NHS and social care funding.

“Developing this proposal has not been easy. We recognise just how much the Tendring Centre has meant to patients and families, staff, volunteers and supporters over the years, and understand there will be a lot of sadness that we are considering this. Whatever the outcome, the Senior Management Team and Board of Trustees remain committed to protecting the amount of hospice care delivered locally to the people of Clacton and Tendring.”

The reasons for this proposal are:

1. The building is too big for the needs of St Helena as less than 40% of the Centre’s capacity is being used. The Tendring Centre is an expensive resource to maintain, making the cost of services delivered from there disproportionately high. This is despite every effort to increase use through offering a range of services and other internal and external community activities from the site.

2. St Helena believes it can support the same number of local people and save money. It would do this by continuing to run groups and clinics in Tendring but using other premises. The charity wants to grow the services offered to people in Tendring and this can be done best by offering these from premises that are most cost effective. It continues to be committed to addressing the inequality of access to hospice services for the people of Tendring.

3. St Helena could release funds to ensure it has enough money in the bank to protect core services and have the option to invest in service development in Tendring.

There are no planned changes to services before the end of March 2019 and the Tendring Centre will continue to operate as usual.

Since 2002 the Tendring Centre has provided a range of Day Therapies and Bereavement Support to local residents. More recently it has also become home to a small St Helena shop selling a range of pre-loved donated items and a small selection of new merchandise.

Posted: 18th October 2018