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Jun 2020

Last Updated: 18/06/2020

Nearly 2500 sign petition to save Henshaws Arts and Crafts centre

by Connor Creaghan

| 18 Jun, 2020

Henshaws said at the start of the month that it will need to make long term changes to ensure that its services have a future.

Nearly 2500 people have signed a petition to try and save Henshaws Arts and Crafts centre from closure.

Henshaws said at the start of the month that it will need to make long term changes to ensure that its services have a future, including closing the community hub in Knaresborough for the foreseeable future.

That decision struck the people who rely on Henshaws Arts and Crafts hard, leading to the petition to save it.

Read more on this story:

When Henshaws will stop its supported living service

“Home once a week for love and cuddles,” the experience of a family with a loved one in Henshaws during the lockdown

Why Henshaws is also closing its Arts and Crafts centre

Why this family feels let down by Henshaws senior management

Caroline Dinsmore set it up and said that the centre has changed lives by transforming shy and unconfident disabled adults into confident and committed artists. She said:

"Let's not lose staff skills and the most inspiring place to visit that Knaresborough and North Yorkshire have. My daughter has always wanted to work there, she says it's her second family and when we visit everyone remembers her. It's the one place we visit that she feels positive about being disabled."

Alongside the closure of the Arts and Crafts Centre, the disability charity will also cut its supported living services in Harrogate. However, the charity said the college is not under threat.

Adrian Sudgen, Henshaws Specialist College principal, said:

"We understand the current closure of the Centre will undoubtedly cause a great deal of distress. We will do everything we can to help during these sad and uncertain times. These are extremely difficult decisions being taken in exceptional circumstances and our team will continue to support people across Yorkshire in every way we can."