There is hope...............
The following is a statement from the Action Group:
We have today received evidence that Helen Ley Centre can be saved. The decision to close appears to be driven solely by the MS Society. MS Respite Care Limited have not withdrawn and have in fact agreed to proceed with the purchase of both Helen Ley and Brambles the sister home in Surrey. The terms asked for by the Society, with reference to the Charities Commission, have been agreed and a deposit of the funds with the Society's solicitors offered.
Instead, for reasons known only to the Society they have formally announced (as shown below) closure of Brambles later this month and Helen Ley at the end of January. Martyn Tilson chair of the action group said “despite all we have already experienced even we are shocked that the society seem determined to go against their stated aims and shut down this vital resource rather than proceed with the sale. Action to reverse this must be taken. It seems to us that Mr Gillespie’s position is becoming untenable and for the good of the society he should stand down immediately.”
We continue to do all we can to get this reversed.
We have today received evidence that Helen Ley Centre can be saved. The decision to close appears to be driven solely by the MS Society. MS Respite Care Limited have not withdrawn and have in fact agreed to proceed with the purchase of both Helen Ley and Brambles the sister home in Surrey. The terms asked for by the Society, with reference to the Charities Commission, have been agreed and a deposit of the funds with the Society's solicitors offered.
Instead, for reasons known only to the Society they have formally announced (as shown below) closure of Brambles later this month and Helen Ley at the end of January. Martyn Tilson chair of the action group said “despite all we have already experienced even we are shocked that the society seem determined to go against their stated aims and shut down this vital resource rather than proceed with the sale. Action to reverse this must be taken. It seems to us that Mr Gillespie’s position is becoming untenable and for the good of the society he should stand down immediately.”
We continue to do all we can to get this reversed.
There is no doubting the continued commitment of MS Respite & Care Services to the purchase of both Helen Ley and Brambles...
We have received detailed correspondence from MS Respite & Care Services (MRCS) that proves their continued commitment to maintaining respite and residential care for people with MS at Helen Ley and Brambles.
The MS Society appeared to have shown considerable reluctance to provide the information necessary for MRCS to complete the purchase within what was already an artificially imposed tight deadline. A spokesman from MSRCS has written:
" We commenced due diligence inc. starting a formal staff Consultation procedure with staff groups at each Home. This came to a standstill because answers were increasingly being asked of us - at a level of detail that required our lawyer’s input & in 7 ½ weeks the Society did not issue a full package of contract documentation to the lawyers acting for us. We suspended further work until a contract was sent & our concerns addressed. After a few months, negotiations gradually lost common ground & in September, the Soc advised us they were going to show other buyers around the homes. We said we would not embark on further work, & we refused an invitation from the MS Society to withdraw from the negotiations. However we accepted that position, on the basis that the Society anticipated - at that time, they would find another buyer for both Homes & we assumed both care services would continue, following a transfer."
Clearly the negotiations had been stuttering for some time, but MRCS accepted the final outcome on the basis of their belief that alternative more "suitable" purchasers had been identified, and that the services would therefore continue.
Once they heard of the plans for closure, they were deeply shocked and have now been willing to amend their proposals in order to meet the demands of the MS Society and take additional risks in terms of occupancy rates and staff numbers in order to save what they consider to be two centres of excellence that are vital source of support to guests, residents and carers. They have even gone so far as to provide evidence of the necessary funds ready to be transferred at a moment's notice. Click here for a copy of the letter sent to the MS Society on 31st October, following what appeared at the time to be a new agreement. A spokesman from MSRCS has written:
"When we heard a public debate on radio West Midlands, in which Simon Gillespie indicated the staff had been told that they should anticipate closure, we contacted the Society with the attached e-mail. A conference call was subsequently held with Simon, Neil Spence, Director of Corporate Services, 2 other senior Executives & us, on Monday 31 Oct 11. In that call we were advised that – at that time, if we submitted an improved offer (the precise amount was specified), then this would meet the expectations of the Charities Commission & could be recommended to the Trustees for approval. That written offer was duly submitted....To our astonishment, we were advised by Property Consultants acting for the Society that they were investigating the quality of an alternative offer for Helen Ley & were planning to find another buyer for Brambles, but after it has been been closed."
As a result MRCS have had little choice but to publicise their position. The MS Society still appear to pushing down the route of closure or "potential" alternative providers. COME ON MR GILLESPIE, how does this not meet with your long stated aim to transfer the centres to an organisation willing to maintain their current MS repsite and residential services? Be brave, and make what is the right decision for your most vulnerable members, who struggle so hard for their opinion to be heard!
The MS Society appeared to have shown considerable reluctance to provide the information necessary for MRCS to complete the purchase within what was already an artificially imposed tight deadline. A spokesman from MSRCS has written:
" We commenced due diligence inc. starting a formal staff Consultation procedure with staff groups at each Home. This came to a standstill because answers were increasingly being asked of us - at a level of detail that required our lawyer’s input & in 7 ½ weeks the Society did not issue a full package of contract documentation to the lawyers acting for us. We suspended further work until a contract was sent & our concerns addressed. After a few months, negotiations gradually lost common ground & in September, the Soc advised us they were going to show other buyers around the homes. We said we would not embark on further work, & we refused an invitation from the MS Society to withdraw from the negotiations. However we accepted that position, on the basis that the Society anticipated - at that time, they would find another buyer for both Homes & we assumed both care services would continue, following a transfer."
Clearly the negotiations had been stuttering for some time, but MRCS accepted the final outcome on the basis of their belief that alternative more "suitable" purchasers had been identified, and that the services would therefore continue.
Once they heard of the plans for closure, they were deeply shocked and have now been willing to amend their proposals in order to meet the demands of the MS Society and take additional risks in terms of occupancy rates and staff numbers in order to save what they consider to be two centres of excellence that are vital source of support to guests, residents and carers. They have even gone so far as to provide evidence of the necessary funds ready to be transferred at a moment's notice. Click here for a copy of the letter sent to the MS Society on 31st October, following what appeared at the time to be a new agreement. A spokesman from MSRCS has written:
"When we heard a public debate on radio West Midlands, in which Simon Gillespie indicated the staff had been told that they should anticipate closure, we contacted the Society with the attached e-mail. A conference call was subsequently held with Simon, Neil Spence, Director of Corporate Services, 2 other senior Executives & us, on Monday 31 Oct 11. In that call we were advised that – at that time, if we submitted an improved offer (the precise amount was specified), then this would meet the expectations of the Charities Commission & could be recommended to the Trustees for approval. That written offer was duly submitted....To our astonishment, we were advised by Property Consultants acting for the Society that they were investigating the quality of an alternative offer for Helen Ley & were planning to find another buyer for Brambles, but after it has been been closed."
As a result MRCS have had little choice but to publicise their position. The MS Society still appear to pushing down the route of closure or "potential" alternative providers. COME ON MR GILLESPIE, how does this not meet with your long stated aim to transfer the centres to an organisation willing to maintain their current MS repsite and residential services? Be brave, and make what is the right decision for your most vulnerable members, who struggle so hard for their opinion to be heard!
