Disability projects axed

This article is published in today's Leicester Mercury:

Disability projects axed

Four council-funded schemes for people with learning disabilities are set to close after no-one came forward to take them over.

Leicestershire County Council's cabinet will decide the future of the schemes next month and they are likely to close in September.

The schemes include the Breaking the Barriers team, in Mountsorrel; the Buffet Car project, in Coalville; Four West, in Wigston; and the Charnwood recycling project, in Loughborough. They run activities such as catering, gardening and recycling.The council had hoped that outside agencies, including charities, could have stepped forward to take over the schemes.

The closures would save £770,000 a year.

Richard Woolerton, 27, is a trainee at the Buffet Car, which gives young people the chance to earn a qualification in catering.

His mother, Jackie, 57, said: "I think it stinks that the council is closing a service that had made such a difference to people's lives for 25 years.

"Richard has a great life thanks to the Buffet Car but they're taking that away. What will happen to all of the people who use these centres? They'll be stuck at home all day."

David Sprason, cabinet member for adults and communities, said the services were not part of the council's core business.

He added: "I'm disappointed that we could not find anyone willing to take over these schemes, but we have to face reality.

"I understand people don't want them to close, but in these hard times, when we're saving £79 million over four years, we have to concentrate our limited funding on the most vulnerable people.

"They are not a core part of our business – especially when there are other agencies out there who are responsible for doing this.

"We're going to ensure that people who use these services have time to find alternatives, which may include our own day services."

However, it is also proposed that two schemes – Breaking the Barriers in Hinckley and the Greenhouse project in Wigston – could continue until September 2012, to allow more time to seek alternative funding.

Russell Harrison, 36, from Coalville, has been visiting Breaking the Barriers, in Hinckley, for three years.

The centres give vulnerable adults an opportunity learn skills such as woodwork and gardening.

Russell's dad, Jeff Harrison, 66, said: "Russell's had some of the best years of his life with Breaking the Barriers.

"I'm pleased that we've been given an additional 18 months at the centre, but we'll continue the campaign to secure its future in the long-term."

Last November, a report by the council said that the schemes had limited success in moving people into paid employment.

The council warned that unless other groups came forward, they would close, because other agencies should be providing this support. County Hall's Cabinet will discuss the issue on April 5.