A former staff nurse from Weston General Hospital has been keeping a day centre running for carers after organisers announced it would shut down.

Weston Mercury: Nikki, who runs the centre at Our Lady of Lourdes church hall, Baytree Road.Nikki, who runs the centre at Our Lady of Lourdes church hall, Baytree Road. (Image: Archant)

Nikki Dight, aged 38, ran a day centre for elderly people and their carers for five years on behalf of Crossroads Care.

When the charity was taken over, it was no longer able to continue running the service so Nikki decided to take it on by herself.

Nikki, who owns home care company Clean And Care, said: “The day care centre had been running for years as part of Crossroads Care, but then the charity got taken over by Alliance Living.

“When they said they were going to shut the centre, some of the clients were in tears.

“It was a lifeline for them and I thought I’d try to carry it on.”

The day centre is run out of Lady of Lourdes Church hall, in Baytree Road, from 10am-2pm every Tuesday and from 1.30-4pm on Friday.

Nikki said: “I saw there was no-one else running a centre for older people with higher needs of care.

“Clients have a range of needs including dementia, recovering from strokes or limited movement issues.

“The centre provides entertainment, friendship, games, chat and help with day-to-day issues like understanding bills.

“Most of the clients who attended the centre with Crossroads, now attend this centre, but we are looking for more people to come and join.

“Fees are minimal to cover basic costs, food and entertainment visitors.

“Clients get to our centre by community transport and I also have a long-standing volunteer driver who kindly transports clients to and from the centre.

“We really hope it can become a place for carers to get respite and for the clients to enjoy themselves a few times a week, with our range of activities.”

Every six weeks a chiropodist visits the sessions and on Tuesdays visitors can enjoy team and toast when they arrive, followed by a hot meal. Friday sessions include an afternoon tea.

For more details contact Nikki via email at nikki@ccwsm.co.uk or call her on 07879 018384 or 01934 429519.