THE long-term future of services provided by a dementia charity could be in doubt due to a lack of funding.

Daybreak is a specialist dementia charity that operates three day clubs in Blackbird Leys, Polstead Road, north Oxford, and Charlbury Close, Kidlington.

Managers say they are finding it increasingly difficult to run the three centres due to a reduction in funds from the county council.

The number of daytime support centres funded by the county council is being reduced from 22 to eight, with overall savings of about £3m between now and 2020.

The Daybreak centres are not county council-run but did receive council funding, were later awarded transitional funding, and can bid for grant funding in future years.

The charity had received £160,000 a year from the council until this was cut back to about £100,000, for the financial year 2016/2017.

Director of Daybreak Andy Buckland said the centres cost a total of £280,000 a year to run.

Mr Buckland added: “We received £110,000 from the council in 2017/2018 and for 2018/2019 we have put in a bid for £100,000 transitional funding. From April 2019 it looks like might not be any county council funding.

“It seems as if the council lumping people with dementia, who have actual health needs, in the same category as older people’s social clubs.

“Without any financial backing from the council the services we provide are under threat.

“The alternative is to go private and charge the market value for our services.”

Mr Buckland said fundraising for the past three years had brought in £40,000 a year for the past three years.

He added: “We can not possibly run the service at this level when there is a shortfall of £240,000.

“We need trained staff to look after people with moderate to severe dementia.

Mr Buckland said the centres provided vital respite care for dementia sufferers’ relatives.

He added: “One lady told us we gave her the first real break for months and she was able to have a bath in peace.”

There are about 100 members a week who use the centres and each centre has three staff.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Paul Smith said: “There will be continued grant funding pots for voluntary sector daytime support providers to bid into in future financial years.”

He said transition funding was put in place to help the 25 per cent of Oxfordshire voluntary sector daytime support providers who previously received financial assistance from the council.

Mr Smith added: “There will be a further £250,000 in grant funding for organisations to apply for per year from 2019/2020.”

To make a donation to Daybreak email Mr Buckland at director@daybreak-oxford.org.uk