Closure of Find A Voice Charity After 27 Years

A charity that has been supporting people with communication difficulties for 27 years is sadly closing its doors due to financial issues. Find A Voice, based in Ashford, has been providing life-enhancing advice, equipment, and training to people of all ages with severe speech, language, and communication needs. The organization, which first started as the Kent Language and Communication Centre in 1996 before being renamed Find A Voice, will cease its operations on December 1.

In a heartfelt statement, the charity expressed deep regret over the closure, attributing it to the financial challenges faced by small charities in the current economic crisis. The decision to close was not taken lightly, and the board and team had made tireless efforts to prevent this outcome. The charity extended its gratitude to the community, service users, and volunteers who have supported them over the past 27 years. Efforts are being made to collect equipment on loan, and refunds for the cancelled Christmas quiz will be arranged promptly.

Despite the closure of Find A Voice, Unite Nightclub, a service launched under the charity’s umbrella, will continue to operate as a separate entity. This monthly self-funded event provides opportunities for people with communication difficulties to socialize and will soon expand to include more events under the name Unite Ashford.

The Find A Voice HQ near Jemmett Road has been a valuable site for service users to continue their education after school, offering a range of IT, employability, and life skills training. One individual who has greatly benefited from the charity’s work is Rose Brown, a former Towers School pupil who lost the ability to speak and move her arms and legs after a car accident 14 years ago. The team at Find A Voice helped Rose unlock new methods of communication and gain independence, which her family never thought would be possible.

The closing of Find A Voice has left many saddened, including charity president Alastair Dutch, who expressed his sadness over the financial struggles that led to this outcome. The charity has received support from various individuals, including Britain’s Got Talent winner Lee Ridley, actress Jan Francis, singer Gareth Gates, and broadcaster Bob Holness.

In 2013, the charity was featured in a documentary that aired on television and online, showcasing its impactful work. Despite the closure, the legacy of Find A Voice will continue to live on through the lives it has touched and the support it has provided to those with communication difficulties.