Cheryl Gillan's day as a carer aims to help centre survive

ENDEAVOUR Centre manager Carol Larter is going to recruit MP Cheryl Gillan to spend a day working as a carer in a bid to keep the crucial centre afloat.

Mrs Larter hopes the MP's actions will highlight the cash crisis of the centre for disabled adults, and persuade Buckinghamshire County Council to continue its funding.

Roy Vaughan, whose 30-year-old daughter Carol is at the centre, challenged the Chesham and Amersham MP last week to "get her hands dirty" and spend a day helping clients.

The county council announced last year it could not continue to fully fund the centre in Cameron Road, Chesham. Social services bosses are looking at new ways of funding the centre when the money runs out next April.

Mrs Gillan will spend a day shadowing a carer at the centre. That could involve anything from helping entertain the clients to taking them to the toilet.

Mrs Larter said: "I don't know what exactly we will have her doing, because it's not always possible to plan the days. She will be working alongside one of our workers and will do everything they do during the day .

"Mrs Gillan is well aware of our funding problems and has always been supportive - I hope this will help us raise our profile and gain the necessary funding."

Mr Vaughan said: "I thought it might be a good idea for big nobs like Cheryl Gillan to come and get their hands dirty. The Endeavour is crucially important and it would be criminal to let it close."

Mrs Gillan said: "I would be delighted to help out at the Endeavour Centre. I always try to do everything possible to support it."

A spokesman for Buckinghamshire County Council said: "There is no way we can continue to fund the Endeavour."

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