Hill climb car to raise Ron Short Centre profile

Rob Harnish was speaking after the centre has run at a substantial deficit for the last four years.

In a bid to raise awareness of its work, the centre has sponsored a car at Monday’s hill climb. It hopes this will bring in business or charitable partnerships.

Mr Harnish said people believe the centre isn’t in need of backing, and raising its profile is the best way to change opinions.

‘Because it was set up with a foundation to build the centre, everyone thinks the Ron Short Centre has a load of money. I thought it myself,’ he said.

‘But we have ran for the last three to four years at a deficit of around £20,000.

‘We either raise our profile to increase our income, or reduce our services.

‘We’d be reducing them just at a time when there is increased need.

‘My vision is for us to become a more efficient and better service provider.’

Mr Harnish said Les Bourgs Hospice had a recognisable charitable need, and believed if the public were more aware of the Ron Short Centre, it could gain similar backing.

‘There are a lot of charities here. It is a generous island We have a history of doing what needs to be done, as a community or as a partnership,’ he said.

‘Look at Les Bourgs Hospice – it’s a fantastic facility, with a charity and community partnership because it has a recognised need.

‘We want to show people what we are doing, the progress we are making.

‘We have the will, we have the manpower. If we can be visible, people will see the quality of our services are excellent.

‘If people can see there is a recognised need for these people, we can begin to develop a partnership with government and businesses that could help us to become world class.’

Hill climb competitor Phil Le Ber, whose Toyota MR2 has been sponsored by the centre, added that he wanted to give the opportunity of sponsorship to a local charity as it is an area in which it would not perhaps normally be involved.