In 1982 the Saxon Centre was opened as a Youth Centre. Open during the day and in the evenings, its facilities included a garage which was used to provide training such as motor maintenance courses for young people.
The kitchen facilities at the Centre were also used by five daily lunch clubs, and in 1982, these came together under the management of Age Concern Orpington & District, a charity which was originally registered back in 1966 (Charity number 207474).
1993 saw the closure of the Youth Centre as Age Concern Bromley was awarded a contract to provide Day Care at the Saxon Centre by the London Borough of Bromley. Within this arrangement, Age Concern Orpington & District took responsibility for managing the Saxon Day Centre with Age Concern Bromley maintaining oversight and financial responsibility. Building alterations were made to the building to extend the area of the Day Care Centre.
In 1996 the Day Care contract at the Saxon Centre was awarded directly to Age Concern Orpington & District by Bromley Council. Age Concern Orpington & District thus became responsible for the overall management of the Saxon Day Care Centre.
2009 marked the merger of the charities Age Concern England and Help the Aged to form Age UK. Age Concern Orpington & District became a “friend” to Age UK Bromley & Greenwich and as such remains allied to Age UK, receiving advice and support, whilst retaining its independence.
Age Concern Orpington and District changed its charitable status in September 2012 to become incorporated as a charitable company (Charity No. 1148958). This was done in order to enable it to accept commercial contracts and continue to provide day care services following upcoming major government changes to the provision of social care. A new contract with the London Borough of Bromley to provide social day care was effected in 2013.
Today, Age Concern Orpington & District continues to provide day care services at the Saxon Day Centre for elderly members of the local community. In 2015 we received a grant from the London Borough of Bromley which enabled us to increase this offering to clients with dementia, initially by opening ‘Memory Lane’, a specific dementia unit within the Saxon Day Centre. We work hard to provide an interesting and varied programme of activities so that all clients can fully enjoy their day at the Saxon Day Centre and we continue to invest to ensure that these services will remain available to the wider community. Overall we strive to promote and encourage the well being of the older members of our community throughout Orpington and the Orpington district to help to make their lives more secure, dignified and enjoyable.
Click here to see our details on the Charity Commission website.