Big up to Cllr Leat for asking at the last full Council Meeting of Salcombe Town  Council to have actual sight of the deficit that Age UK claim they are incurring because of Woodcot.

Instead of naively  swallowing hook, line and sinker, every word that Age UK make to justify the sale of this wonderful property -Cllr Leat has quite rightly asked to see evidence.

After all if we are to lose the star jewel in Salcombe’s  crown. It must be because poor old Age UK are struggling and Woodcot must be sacrificed to save it.
No matter that Salcombe  will be the poorer;  that Miss Jennings covenant which is still tied to the title still holds water; no matter that there are six elderly residents who count it as home and who were promised that they would never have to leave….No! These are mere trifles to Age UK who have a charity /business to run. Everything is justified when it comes to Age UK’s national interests.

Let’s take a look at some of the facts taken from the Trustees report of 23/24:

Age UK made:-

 £68.1 million from fundraising.

£27.6 million from gifts

£22.4 million from one off donations

£18.2million in grants

They spent £17.3 million on International Aid. 

Age UK employs according to its website 1001-5000 employees? 

That’s a  lot of overheads. No wonder they need to sell off the generous gifts that they receive…

How about this… A Return to localism? 
How much simpler it would be to hand Woodcot to a local charity with lower overheads. To be run as Miss Jennings always intended it to be used. To provide local employment, housing and open the grounds and listed gardens to the public. Now that would be the charitable thing to do wouldn’t it? 

The last word must go to STC

Cllr Niven also spoke up at the council meeting: in support of Age UK prompting the question that we hope is on every voter’s  lips come the next local election- “just who do you think you are serving? Cllr Niven? Age UK or the town and people of Salcombe?”