The charity had been forced to relocate but has now opened a newly refurbished dementia day care centre that will also double as its head office, reports James Cracknell

Marion Kelly cuts the ribbon on the day centre which now carries the name of her late aunt Mabel Churn

A new day care centre run by Age UK Enfield has been hailed as a “dream come true” for the charity.

The Mabel Churn Centre in The Sunny Road, Brimsdown, has become the new home of the older people’s organisation after it was forced to relocate from two previous sites.

The specialist dementia day centre has been named after Mabel ‘Mabs’ Mardulyn (née Churn), who was active in the Enfield community for many decades and created the Mabs Mardulyn Charitable Foundation as a lasting legacy to benefit young people and older people, both in the UK and her native Hong Kong.

It now provides activities that support physical, emotional and cognitive wellbeing, including cookery sessions, arts and crafts, gardening, singing and music, reminiscence activities and exercise classes.

At a launch event on Tuesday (9th) Age UK Enfield’s chair of trustees explained the difference The Mabel Churn Centre would make to the charity and the 16,000 people it supports every year.

Elaine Adkin said: “Age UK Enfield needs to grow to meet increasing demands, so we have been looking for new premises, also knowing the council was asking us to leave [former sites] The Parker Centre and John Jackson Library.

“It has been a long and challenging journey. This was a former day care centre but it had been empty for two years […] I said if we could move in here it would be a dream come true.”

In addition to a “significant gift” from The Mabs Mardulyn Charitable Foundation to fund the renovation, grants were also secured from Garfield Weston Foundation and Bernard Sunley Foundation, as well as local businesses including Thompsons of Crews Hill, Forsters and B&Q.

Formerly known as Rose Taylor Centre, the building has been fully refurbished and upgraded to include a number of innovative features, including a self-service kiosk which delivers rapid, high-impact health checks.

Elaine continued: “A lot of hard work has gone into this building – new electrics, damp proofing, drainage. The layout and design has been selected based on the views of our clients, staff and volunteers. I hope you agree it is a wonderful, bright space.

“The transformation was made made possible by the Mabs Mardulyn Charitable Foundation. Mabel Churn was an active member of the Enfield community right up until her death – and thanks to this centre she is still involved in this community.”

Elaine also explained that older people living in deprived areas have a life expectancy seven years lower than those in well-off areas, and that Enfield was recently named among the 13% most deprived local areas in the country. “We need to meet the challenge that gives us,” she added.

Also speaking at the launch event was Marion Kelly, Mabel Churn’s niece, who is a director of the charity which carries her aunt’s name. She said: “It is an honour and a privilege to see and to witness the tremendous work that Age UK Enfield does for older people and carers.

“The foundation is delighted to support Age UK Enfield with its ongoing work – aunty Mabs would have been pleased.”

Matt Casey, head of strategy and service development for adult social care services at Enfield Council, added: “This centre stands as a beacon of hope for people and families living with dementia […] It is a vital asset offering structured activities and respite care.

“By working together [with Age UK Enfield] we are ensuring the voice of older people and their carers are at the heart of everything we do.”

Find out more about the services provided at The Mabel Churn Centre:
Visit ageuk.org.uk/enfield/our-services/dementia-the-mabel-churn-centre

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