Following a devastating fire over this bank holiday, the Beacon Centre has been badly damaged, and is in need of serious repair and replacements.

My Mum, Kay Symcox, is the manager of the charity-funded Beacon Centre and has poured her heart into it since December 2021, and even more so since 27th May 2022 when the doors to the Beacon Centre opened after refurbishment of the derelict building made it possible.

Since then, the community centre has changed the lives of many in and around Clayton, Manchester. For example by providing affordable shopping in the form of a community grocer, seated fitness and boxing, seated exercise, Strictly Beacon ballroom dancing classes, craft sessions, luncheon club for older people, community and men’s coffee mornings, Citizens Advice, free courses, blood pressure checks, and much more.

To help raise money for some of the repairs and funding of the centre in general, I will be swimming 15 miles over the month of October.

Any donations will be greatly appreciated.

Here she is, with one of her volunteers, James, giving up their bank holiday weekend - back to work as “normal”. Also, some photos of the damage, and the activities and services that she hopes will be able to continue as soon as possible.