Signposts Support Centre

At our Partners Evening on 28^th March we were delighted to welcome Chris and Rosie Elkins, Trustees of Signposts (Mid Sussex) Limited (Rosie is Co-Chair and Chris is Treasurer).Signposts opened as a Charity and Limited Company in 2003 following a Quality Review of services for people with a learning disability, by West Sussex County Council (WSCC).

Start-up funding came from WSCC and Lloyds Bank.Since then Signposts have also been supported by, The Bailey Thomas Charitable Fund, Sussex Community Foundation, Mid-Sussex Mencap, Mid Sussex District Council, Burgess Hill Town Council, The Co-operative Group.The Burgess Hill District Lions Club recently held a charity meal raising £550.Burgess Hill Town Mayor, Jacqui Llandriani is also a trustee and has chosen Signposts as her nominated charity.

The Signposts Centre offers a range of services such as My Network, Summerhaven Mental Health, Counselling, Health Surgery, Advocacy Service, Carers Support, Postal Checking and Form Filling, Speak Up, Asperger’s Voice, Saturday Club, Film Night, Knit and Natter, Out There, Older Persons Club and Gardening.Some of these are held at their base at The Old Post Office Burgess Hill others are held at The Triangle and the Saltworkz Café in Haywards Heath.

Signposts are the only organisation in Mid Sussex delivering these vital services to people with learning disabilities.

The running costs of the Centre are £65,000 per annum.WSCC fund £30,000 with other funding from letting offices to other charities, clients’ nominal contributions, community fundraising events and from small donations.After this there is a shortfall of £20,00 per annum which has to be found from grant funding.In the current financial climate it is very difficult to obtain grant funding for running costs.

As well as funding, Signposts are looking for more Trustees and volunteers, if you are interested please look at their website, http://www.signpostsmidsussex.org.uk/How-you-can-help

Chirs and Rosie are also involved with Mid Sussex Mencap and organise their annual Photographic and Video Competition with over 100 participants from across East and West Sussex.Chris and Rosie received 800 photos and 12 video films in 2016.Further information, winners and photos can be found http://midsussexmencap.org.uk/#/photo-winners-2016/4585209051

The presentation concluded with a video, ‘Colourless’, made by clients at Signposts which came 2^nd in the Mencap 2016 Video Competition.

Our thanks go to Chris and Rosie for giving such an informative and enjoyable presentation.