Could you help unique Lancaster charity find their forever home?

Neuro Drop In has been looking for a new home since July 2020, when it had to leave its base at HMP Lancaster Farms.

The charity provides unique support for anyone affected by a neurological condition, such as multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, epilepsy, dementia, cerebral palsy, Huntington’s disease, ME, MG, MSA and acquired brain injury.

It relies heavily on the generosity and support of the local people, businesses and community groups who give their time and money to help run the centre.

It receives no statutory funding and needs to raise more than £140,000 a year to cover the costs of activities, which include many classes and groups such as crafts, singing for wellbeing, mindfulness, yoga, seated exercise classes, physio, mindfulness and book groups.

Earlier this week the charity announced it had won a funding grant from the National Lottery of £250,000 over five years, to be used specifically to support core salary costs.

Neuro Drop In has been housed temporarily at Torrisholme Methodist Church since last January - but founder Sharon Jackson is still hopeful they will find a permanent home for their services.

"We are glad to be somewhere but the amount of work involved in trying to operate is unbelievable," she said.

"Sharing space with other people is a massive challenge, but we are still able to do some fantastic work.

"We are managing to deliver all our projects but with some adaptations."

Among their activities have been sessions with University of Cumbria students on work placement in non-clinical roles.

They have developed events such as a silent music quiz, silent book club and other activities using headphones.

"It's been useful having access to the students because they are coming up with ideas to help us develop our projects," Sharon said.

"We have done really well to survive being made homeless during the pandemic," Sharon added. "We have moved three times since then, which has been exhausting.

"We are doing our best in difficult circumstances."

The charity is ideally looking for a single storey building which could be adapted if needed, with adequate parking space.