THE leader of Basingstoke's Age Concern group says it is facing a brighter future after bouncing back from a disastrous year.

At its annual general meeting at the Civic Offices, members discussed the findings of the 2000/2001 report which shows a dramatic recovery from the year before.

Last year, The Gazette reported how the charity was forced to close six day centres due to a lack of resources.

The closures came after the then chairwoman Anne Louise de Montpensier-Budd said the day centres were depleting the charity's reserves by up to £50,000 a year after Hampshire Social Services withdrew funding.

Mrs de Montpensier-Budd and four other trustees subsequently resigned and were replaced by six new trustees and new chairman Allan Blythe.

The annual meeting heard that since appointing trustee Chris Parsons to direct fundraising, the group has made a significant recovery.

Mr Parsons said: "We have organised several events, including a plant sale which raised about £700, a musical evening by the Basingstoke Silver Band and the Farnham Brass Band at Carnival Hall. Proteus Theatre company also performed a play at the Carnival Hall."

Other fundraising efforts have helped to raise £4,829. Mr Blythe said: "We are grateful to all those who have supported these events.

"I believe that we have made a solid and successful start to the process of making Age Concern an active and vibrant charity within the borough once again."

Mr Blythe put the turn- around in fortunes down to cost controls and praised group secretary Maria Mitchell for keeping expenses down.

He added the group was also grateful to receive private donations of £4,393.

Age Concern has received £2,000 from the borough and county councils, as well as grants from the Four Lanes Trust and the Henry Smith Foundation.

In recent months, the Age Concern team has been able to reopen three activity centres - two at Richard Aldworth School and one at Kingsclere. In September, members are hoping to reopen another centre in Popley.

Meanwhile, plans are afoot to add a Computer Club to the current computer drop-in centre for people aged 50 and above.

Age Concern is also organising a show by retired entertainers at Carnival Hall on October 6. The event will be free to anyone over 50.