Each Year we choose a charity to help with the various social fundraising events we hold, This year we have chosen to
support "Serve".
Serve is a registered charity and since 1981 has been committed to assessing and addressing need and care in the community. Through the vision
of a few dedicated people at that time the seeds of the current organisation were sown. Then, as today, it was recognised that there was a need
to supplement the essential care and health needs provided by the NHS and Social Services and that many older persons and people with
disabilities required assistance, advice and companionship. Funding was secured from both the NHS and Northamptonshire County Council and
premises were acquired at Church Street, Rushden, which, although subsequently expanded, continues to be the Head Office.The growth of Serve
in the first three years was quite exceptional, leading to the appointment of the first full time Co-ordinator in 1984, Mrs Sylvia Smith, who
was to remain in control for a total of fourteen years. Serve continued to grow through the eighties and nineties, adding services as they
became identified – and the first venture into Day Care came in 1995 when, with the help and support of Mr Peter Crisp, the premises in Church
Street were extended.
This heralded the biggest growth period of Serve. It was recognised that Rushden was by no means peculiar in the need for services and the
operational area was extended to cover other towns and villages between Higham Ferrers, Irthlingborough and Raunds plus the outlying villages
of North Bedfordshire, a total catchment area of around 55,000 people.
In a period of 25 years Serve has become a major provider of services with an annual turnover of over £800,000 and employing over 60 staff.
