A CEILING at the Hollies, which provides services for elderly people in Musselburgh, collapsed on Friday afternoon.
No one was injured in the incident, which happened in the empty upstairs board room of the High Street facility, which is now known as the Hollies Community Hub SCIO after a name change was announced this week.
Manager Liz Shannon stressed that the incident highlighted the “urgent need” for major roof repairs at the building, formerly the Hollies Day Centre, which will cost nearly £200,000.
Although the centre is responsible for maintenance of the building, which is leased from East Lothian Council, it is hoping that the local authority will help out with the “extraordinary repairs”.
A public appeal was also recently launched to help raise funds for the work.
Ms Shannon said that the board room hasn’t been used for some time as there were buckets catching “dripping water”.
A ceiling at the Hollies has collapsed. Photo: Wendy Notman
She added that one of the facility’s hairdressers discovered the ceiling collapse, saying, although it was “a disaster”, it wasn’t “unexpected” as the condition of the roof was deteriorating.
Ms Shannon said: “It is the general condition of the roof above which led to the leaks, which led to the collapse.”
An independent survey of the roof, carried out in December 2020, showed that it would cost £193,000 to make the main building and hall wind and water tight for the future.
She previously said the Hollies had spent thousands of pounds over the years on roof repairs and other maintenance.
As it has no sources of regular funding, much time was spent applying to funders, with its only regular income from its public cafe, lunch club and hairdressers.
She added: “As we continue to fundraise to run our services, we are also fundraising to keep a roof over our heads – literally.
READ MORE: Public appeal launched to raise funds for roof repair at Hollies
“We would like to thank the local community for their contributions to date and would welcome any further donations to help us achieve a wind and waterproof building as we go forward.”
The name change was approved by OSCR and Companies House, as Ms Shannon explained: “As we move forward in 2022 and away hopefully from the difficulties of the past two years, the new name will be seen as more inclusive and not just for the elderly, although the older community are at the core of our services.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise about £1,000 for the charity and Ewan Mclay, a driver at the Hollies, is helping out to with a virtual walk across the country.
The facility’s staunch supporter, actor James Martin, who played the character Eric in the hit TV series Still Game, has donated a signed clapperboard he received when he left the programme nearly four years ago as an auction prize.
READ MORE: Hollies to be boosted by Still Game's James Martin
Musselburgh singer/songwriter Nicola Graham, a Patsy Cline tribute act, is set to perform on April 1 for the Hollies.
To donate to the Hollies appeal or Mr Mclay’s walking challenge go to gofundme.com/f/help-we-need-somebody-help
Sponsored walk donations can also be handed into the day centre.
The closing date for bids for the clapperboard is March 25 – private message bids to the Hollies Facebook page.
Tickets for the Patsy Cline tribute concert are available from the centre.
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