SWANS disabled adults club at Maldon has launched a £40,000 appeal to the community to help it create a new centre.

Plans have been drawn up to create a new home close to the current base at St Cedd's House, Princes Road.

They were shown to members at the annual general meeting on Friday, and are now being finalised for being submitted to Maldon District Council for planning permission.

"It will be a purpose built building with two classrooms, craft room, information technology room, office, aromatherapy suite and proper bathroom, kitchen and restaurant," said co-ordinator Julia Dowling.

It is also hoped that the new centre will provide a fitting memorial to Scott Thomas, who died last year and was a member of SWANS.

Mrs Dowling said: "We are getting to the stage where the building we are in is not big enough for our members' needs.

"We have got 55 members and we have got waiting lists for most of the classes now. We try and get people in where we can but we have to say pick one class out of a week rather than run a varied time table."

The building is expected to cost £70,000 and SWANS will be applying for various grants. They will still need £40,000 from the local community to equip it with carpet and equipment and if people cannot spare the cash they could help by sparing time to do some of the decoration work added Mrs Dowling.

If anyone can help they are asked to contact the centre on 01621 841491. Also needed are enablers to help students during the week and someone to drive the minibus particularly on a Monday and Friday at 3pm. Contact the above number if you can help.

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