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Gatehouse - Caring in West Suffolk

Page updated - 20 February 2005

Dettingen Way, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. IP33 3TU. Tel: 01284 754 967 Fax: 01284 761 212

The local charity helping over 4000 families, children and elderly people each year.

Who are we?

Gatehouse (Charity No. 800199) was started in1986 – to help those in material and emotional need throughout West Suffolk, to raise awareness of the causes of social injustice by undertaking voluntary work in the field of social welfare and to provide practical help for disadvantaged families and individuals throughout the area. The charity has 17 staff and over 100 volunteers. Our services and activities are based in Bury St. Edmunds and Mildenhall.

Who do we help?

Anyone who comes to us in need or is referred to us, including those on low Income, people in housing need, people with disability, students, the elderly, single-parent families, ex-prisoners and travellers.

How do we help them?

Gatehouse has six organised projects:

• G.O.A.L. (Get Out And Learn) - Goal projects are based In Bury St Edmunds and Mildenhall. Parents with pre-school children attend the projects where opportunities are provided for the parents to develop skills of varied levels, secure in the knowledge that their children are under the expert supervision of trained child minders.

• Wednesday Group is for those of all ages who have become isolated through mental illness, and who are making their way back into the community.

• Thursday Club is for those over 65 years of age suffering from enduring mental health problems such as Alzheimers, dementia and depression. Besides benefiting from a day of friendship and stimulating activities, members enjoy a nourishing home-cooked meal.

• Friday Group is a friendship group for the elderly suffering from loneliness, isolation and infirmity. Members are collected from and returned to their homes by volunteer drivers.

• Mildenhall Day Centre provides companionship, warmth and activities for 70 isolated and/or housebound men and women a week. Transport is arranged to and from the Centre and an excellent midday lunch is cooked at the Centre.

• Furniture Recycling Project is a complete home furnishing service for all those in need on low income. The donated furniture is collected by the Gatehouse van, arranged in the friendly warehouse, and once chosen by the client, the items are delivered to their home. All the donations are checked for safety and cleanliness before being put on display.

How do we do it?

By working with Local Authorities, Social Services, Probation Services and all agencies who refer people to us, as well as by individual personal contact.

Can we help you?

If you, or a relative or friend, would benefit from any of the activities and services Gatehouse offers, please get in touch. You'll find our address and phone number at the top of this page. Everyone is welcome, and we would love to hear from you. If you wish to make a donation to the work of Gatehouse or would like information about Gift Aid, ShareGift or a legacy, please call us - contact details at the top of this page.

Can you help us?

You can, in many different ways, as a Gatehouse volunteer. Please contact us for a chat - contact details at the top of this page.

Gatehouse faces challenges every year in raising enough money to support the work we do. Thousands of families and disadvantaged individuals are helped by us. We have many dedicated volunteers who help, day in and day out. This keeps our costs down. But we still have running costs to meet each year. We need your help and there are several ways in which you can help:

• Any donation is more than welcome – whatever you can give is gratefully received and acknowledged.

• By making an annual donation and becoming a friend of Gatehouse.

• By giving a donation with Gift Aid so we can reclaim the tax paid on your gift.

• By giving shares - do you own shares that are not worth keeping but not worth selling? The ShareGift organisation can translate those into cash at no cost.

• Have you thought of leaving a legacy to Gatehouse? Your commitment to our work goes on for ever – a lasting testimony.

Whatever you can do, know that your gift is making a real impact on the lives of people in distress. Your gift is helping someone in the community and also supporting family life.