Disabled charity facing closure

Apr 10 2008 by Catherine Evans, Rhymney Valley Express

JEFF Cuthbert has vowed to do whatever he can in the fight to find funding for an under-threat Bargoed disability charity.

The Centre for Help and Advice for the Disabled (CHAD) need to find around £200,000 before Welsh Assembly Government cash runs out next March or face closure.

The charity provides disability aids to people in the community and offers advice to thousands of disabled people from all over Britain each year.

Caerphilly AM Mr Cuthbert met with the Minister for Social Justice, Brian Gibbons, to plead for the Assembly to “leave no stone unturned” in their quest to save the charity.

The AM took CHAD Treasurer Sheila Hopkins and General Manager Steve Griffiths to the meeting so they could explore options that could potentially save the centre at the Independent Living Centre in Heol Fargoed.

Mr Cuthbert said: “CHAD provides a vital service to disabled people throughout the Caerphilly Borough and beyond.

“I appreciate that the Welsh Assembly has provided about half a million pounds over the last few years but it would be a devastating blow for such a facility to close.”