Unique charity to move into new home in Lancaster

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

Since then it has been forced to move several times - and has been operating out of Torrisholme Methodist Church for almost three years - but founder Sharon Jackson is hopeful they have now found a permanent home for their services.

Neuro Drop In 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.

The charity 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.

The charity - which usually supports around 80 to 100 people a week - is now taking up a lease at the former Hornets Bar in Hornbeam Road on the Marsh estate in Lancaster.

"We heard the building was becoming free before last Christmas," Sharon said. "we went to see them in February and had a look around and we thought it would be great for us."

The charity has since applied for a change of use from the city council for the building, and Sharon said she was overwhelmed by the public support for the application.

"We are very grateful for all the support we have had," Sharon said. "Neuro Drop In is very much loved in the community and without that support we wouldn't have survived."

The charity will be able to renovate the building to provide room for treatments and exercise for their members, as well as office space and a new front entrance.

In the future it's hoped that final year university medical students will come to the charity on placement.

"We want to fit Neuro Drop In into the community," Sharon said. "We are good neighbours, we just want to offer a service that's currently difficult for people to access.

"The landlord is sympathetic to what we want to do and we can make it more suitable for us to be able to support more people.

"I am very excited about us going there. We have got a lot of ideas.”

Coincidentally, the new property was once used as a prison workshop, and Sharon said the old signage will remain as a reminder of the history of the property as well as the prison environment that Neuro Drop In began life in.

It is hoped the space can be ready for Neuro Drop In to move in during January.

Sharon added that any people who could volunteer their time and skills to help get the building into shape would be very welcome.

"We are going to need a lot of help and would welcome people who want to get involved," she said.

Neuro Drop In can be contacted via their website at https://neurodropin.org.uk/