A CHARITY which has helped thousands of disabled people has folded after 78 years due to a lack of funding cuts.

East Sussex Disability Association - which was based at Faraday Close in Eastbourne - was the only user-led organisation in the county working with all disabled people.

It has been unable to secure long-term funding so has closed its doors for the last time.

Chairwoman Sarah Playforth said: "The insecurity and difficulty experienced by many disabled people in the current climate of austerity will be increased as we close, removing yet more support from them.

"ESDA was supporting several thousand people every year and this closure will inevitably put additional strain on the remaining resources."

She said the charity has enjoyed great public support over the years.

She said: "I must thank the thousands of staff, volunteers and supporters who handed on the baton over the 78 years of our existence. ESDA has only lasted as long as it has because each new generation committed themselves to this cause and gave of their time, effort and resources.

"I pay great tribute to all our current staff and volunteers, many of whom have been with us for several years.

"Our chief executive Nick Tapp has been with ESDA for nearly 25 years and I commend his tireless commitment and hard work in maintaining an effective team through these last difficult years.

"We have had consistent support from East Sussex County Council's adult social care commissioners, other staff and councillors, and from our dedicated President, Lady Jane Lloyd."

However, she warned that there are ever-increasing demands for disabled people in a time of what she calls ever-decreasing resources.

She added: "ESDA's legacy will live on in all those willing to continue to honour and promote its mission, particularly when the rights of disabled people are threatened."

Mr Tapp described his last day at work as emotional and said the closure was a great loss, but he emphasised that a great deal has been achieved by ESDA and that must not be forgotten.

ESDA was always proud to declare that it "enables disabled people in East Sussex to achieve independence and control over their own lives", he added.

While council funding had steadily decreased it had also been increasingly difficult to gain grants from other sources and this stretched the charity's reserves.

Among its many services were a daily living group, information service, running local groups, IT training and benefits advice.