Petition launched to save the Hollies, with fears it could shut this month

Manager Liz Shannon fears that the much-loved High Street facility could shut its doors permanently at the end of April, “if not before”, unless it is thrown a lifeline.

All the staff have agreed to take half wages for the first two weeks in April in a bid to keep The Hollies open a bit longer.

Ms Shannon said: “We are facing a funding crisis; despite our best efforts and applying to funders so far this year, we have been unsuccessful.

“The commitment from all the staff is heart-warming.

“They have worked tirelessly to try and keep our services running under the most difficult of circumstances – it will be a sad day for us all.”

A petition has been launched - available here - urging local people to get behind the campaign to save the Hollies Community Hub SCIO after a recent name change from Hollies Day Centre SCIO.

'A real chance the Hollies will close'

It reads: “Due to lack of funds, there is a real chance The Hollies will close by the end of April, if not before.

“Save The Hollies for the local community.”

Ms Shannon said: “Our petition will be presented to East Lothian Council and Colin Beattie MSP to demonstrate what The Hollies means to the local community and how they feel about The Hollies and its services.

“After 60 years’ service to the local community, it seems inevitable that we cannot continue financially past this month.

“The Hollies relies on funding from outside agencies to allow us to provide our service.

“We no longer receive part funding from the local authority, as protracted talks with the council and the health and social care partnership in 2018/19, whereby they wanted to change The Hollies into a day hospital for people with complex needs, was rejected.

“We held a consultation in-house and 271 customers in 10 days asked us to remain as we were. If we had proceeded as the council wished, all other community activities would have ceased.

'Completely stopped'

“Our own fundraising efforts, such as coffee mornings, fish supper nights and live music events, have completely stopped since March 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Our last part funding grant from East Lothian Council was in December 2018.

“We have struggled on over the years with a wish and a prayer and continued to pay for maintenance for the building out of our meagre funds. We have had a lot of funding and support from the National Lottery, Robertson Trust and Bank of Scotland Foundation to name a few which has enabled us to continue.

“I despair for our members, who will be stuck at home again with no company and no hope.

“I can only hope East Lothian Council will provide a service for the elderly people of Musselburgh who love The Hollies and deserve a place they can go to in which they feel safe and is inexpensive.

“The ethos of The Hollies is to help older people retain their independence in a homely setting to which they can come Monday to Friday, where they can mix and meet their friends and, with our voluntary effort and support, give that human touch which is so vital for older people.

“Our aim is to improve social inclusion and reduce social isolation in this vulnerable group by offering services they may enjoy in our centre. We also run a cafe, open to the public as well as our older attendees, where people can come Monday to Friday to meet friends and enjoy inexpensive meals and snacks.

Visitors to a Hollies Day Centre pre-pandemic coffee morning enjoying some music and dancing

“We have our own bus to bring people into our lunch club and home. Pre-Covid pandemic, we had expanded our afternoon activities, with musicians coming into play for members to singalong or dance.

“Our purpose and mission is to provide a safe place for the growing numbers of older people in Musselburgh and surrounding areas to socialise with activities and talks, as well as have fun.

“We also have an inexpensive ladies’ hairdressers salon in our premises.”

The need for urgent roof repairs, at a cost of about £200,000, was also highlighted recently after a ceiling in the empty boardroom collapsed.

The hub is responsible for maintenance of the building, which is leased from the council.

The petition – which so far has about 400 signatures – can be signed at The Hollies and is being circulated around the town by Musselburgh resident Ewan Mclay, who drives the centre’s minibus.

About 13,000 people use The Hollies’ services each year.

'Deeply concerned'

MSP Mr Beattie has joined the calls to help save the Hollies.

He said: “I am deeply concerned at the potential closure of The Hollies. It has been a long-standing service in the Musselburgh community, especially for the elderly, and provides a central hub to meet and socialise.

“This service remains vital to the community in tackling isolation and loneliness, which we know many people faced, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The Hollies provides a safe and welcoming environment for the elderly population of Musselburgh and allows them to retain their independence within this setting.

“I give my full support to their petition and have offered help in any way I can to save The Hollies from closure. I know how much the day centre makes a difference to the lives of my constituents in Musselburgh and how important it is to their wellbeing.

“I have pushed East Lothian Council to take action on this matter and it is time for them to step up to help save this much-loved and used community facility. The Hollies is at the heart of Musselburgh and it would be a great loss to the community if it were to close.

“I would encourage the people of Musselburgh to get behind this campaign and head to The Hollies to sign the petition.”

'Special place'

Musselburgh councillor John Williamson said that The Hollies held a “special place in the hearts of many people in Musselburgh”.

“The last few years have been particularly difficult due to Covid but now, as things are beginning to return to some sort of normality, it is important The Hollies continues to remain open to serve the community of Musselburgh,” he said.

“Finances have been an issue since the withdrawal of council funding, with the constant search for alternative sources of funding a never-ending and not always successful quest.

“I hope that East Lothian Council can offer support to enable The Hollies to remain open, not just in the short term but on a secure financial basis for the future.

“The Hollies has so much to offer our community and deserves the opportunity to continue meeting the needs it has since 1962.”

The other Musselburgh councillors were asked for a comment but had not replied by the time we went to press.

In response to the petition and calls for it to take action, the council said in a statement: “Council officers have worked with the management of The Hollies in the past and have previously arranged for them to meet with a representative of Musselburgh Business Partnership to give advice on their business and funding. Officers would be happy to assist further in terms of offering advice or signposting to potential sources of support, if this would prove helpful.”