ARC is receiving daily news about Local Authorities which are finding it difficult to make ends meet and having to face up to reality by imposing cuts in services. We would like to collate the extent of what we see as an impending crisis and in particular examine the impact of cuts on the lives of people with a learning disability who are members support.
On this page you will find links to other news articles about the cuts, listed regionally. Please add your own comments of experiences in the box below, and vote in our poll as to whether cuts in your area are having a detrimental impact on the lives of people you support.
The LDC has published a survey on the impact of cuts to services entitled "Tell it like it is" download the full document here.
For more information on the Learning Disability Coalition (LDC) visit their website.
Community Care .co.uk writes about the 'scale' of the cuts in this article by Mithran Samuel. (2 July 2008)
Comment from a contributor who wishes to remain anonymous:
One of our local service providers no longer allows people within its day centres to use the day centre buses therefore depriving them of their community experiences and creating a return to the dark ages. (10 Oct 2006)
Councils turn backs on care for older people
- Nearly 75% of authorities restrict social services
- Tens of thousands of the most vulnerable excluded
Where will users go when the day centres close? Article in Craegmoor News. (30 Aug 2007)
Learning disabilities: are day centres closing to cut costs? Article from Community Care (23 Aug 2007)
Deep sense of shame
After more than a decade working in the profession she loves, Alison Napier feels so demoralised she is considering giving up social work. Here she relates the challenges driving her out. (1 Aug 2007)
Disability rights campaigners condemn college cuts
Disability rights campaigners have attacked a 15 per cent cut in college places for people with learning disabilities. (9 Feb 2007)
'They're calling my son ineducable' Article in The Guardian about the 3,000 loss of college places for people with learning disabilities (6 Feb 2007)
Mencap's eNewsletter is highlighting their campaign against cuts in your local area (31 Jan 2007)
Many 'excluded from care' (10 Jan 2007) BBC News article on the publication of CSCI's annual report about services in England.
New cuts renew anger (1 Nov 2006)
An article in Disability Now with details of cuts in several areas.
Debate in the House of Lords (7 Dec 2006)
Transcript of a debate in the House of Lords on Adult Social Care initiated by Lord Bruce-Lockhart. Continue through the debate by clicking 'next section' at the bottom of each page.
Social Services overspend laid bare (7 Dec 2006)
Article in Community Care about social services finances.
Cuts in the North East
Fears over vital horticultural learning unit (13 Nov 2007)
The wrong sort of learners (25 Jul 2006)
Cuts in the North West
Thousands to keep care packages after council U-turn (4 Feb 2008)
Adult social care cuts (15 Oct 2007)
Council scraps 'high moderate' care support (27 Sep 2007)
Anger at day centre closure (2 Aug 2007)
Anger at adult care review plans (28 Jun 2007)
Tell of your fears (28 Jun 2007)
Million Pound College Cuts (24 May 2007)
Courses cut for adults with learning difficulties as skills priorities shift (10 Aug 2006)
'Don't take away our reason for getting out of bed in the mornings' (9 Aug 2006)
UCU: Liverpool protest defending adult education (13 Jul 2006)
Cuts in Yorkshire & Humberside
Families angry at centre closure (6 Sep 2007)
Cash crisis for York adult care (28 Dec 2006)
Cuts in the East Midlands
Council rethink on £1.6m service cut (20 Feb 2008)
Carers force rethink over closures (4 Jan 2008) Northamptonshire
Comments from the East Midlands:
I work in Notts as paid advocate and see on a day to day basis the effects of funding cuts and restrictions on vulnerable people's lives. Often the most vulnerable people don't reach the criteria for receiving services and therefore become even more vulnerable. Funding has a direct influence on many people's quality of lives yet this is not considered when cuts are made. (24 Oct 2006)
Cuts in the West Midlands
Don't let them axe our Warwickshire day centres (20 Apr 2008)
Carers march over centre closure (5 Apr 2008)
Families' dismay at closure of day centre (9 Feb 2008)
Council aims to close more homes (11 Jun 2007)
Fears over cuts to adult care (30 May 2007)
Swingeing Decision to Cut £3 disregard payments in Coventry to go before Scrutiny Committee. (14 Nov 2006)
Cuts in the East
Outrage at funding cut for disabled (2 May 2008)
Norfolk care fees frozen (10 Mar 2008)
Care cost increase 'cruel' (4 Jul 2007)
Campaigners angry over disabled centre closure (3 Apr 2007)
Council warns of fresh budget crisis (13 Jan 2007)
Services threatened as council plans cuts (28 Dec 2006)
Funding cuts will hit old and new (26 Oct 2006)
Last chance for Charlie to talk could be snatched away (13 Oct 2006)
Cuts in the South West
£12m funding boost (22 Feb 2008)
U-turn over day centre closure (13 Jan 2008)
Provision of social care in the spotlight (22 Nov 2007)
Jobs threat in economy drive (7 Nov 2007)
Course cuts upset adults with learning disabilities (20 Aug 2007)
Day centres to close (23 Jan 2007)
Shortfall threatens disabled care (15 Jan 2007)
Thousands of people with physical and learning difficulties in Cornwall are to be charged for their meals and transport to and from day centres (16 Oct 2006)
Mum's Anger at Centre Closure (7 Sept 2006)
Facing the Axe (1 Sept 2006)
Shock as Learning Centre set to close (31 Aug 2006)
Learning Difficulties: Cornwall families speak out (23 Aug 2006)
Wiltshire's disabled people pay the price of cost shunting and deficit (20 Jul 2006)
Comments from ARC Members in the South West
NAME: Peter Cheeseman EMAIL: ivers.college@btinternet.com
COMMENTS: We have experienced one authority which has been very supportive trying to bring clients back into area despite the desire of the parents or more still the client. Whilst another county is withdrawing a student at parents' request despite an increase in fees. On the positive side we have students who have been with us for many years and whose fees due to minimal increases are below what would be charged if they were new students. Any move of these clients would result in increased costs. My Manager and I think Authorities are favouring larger organisations over the samll provider. Recently we had a visit from the local consultant in mental health and he equated our establishment with Cheshire Homes as providing the best care in Dorset, and could not understand why we had vacancies. (11 Jun 2007)
NAME: Catherine Howie EMAIL: care@tullyboy.co.uk
COMMENTS: I support people in residential care who have profound LD, difficult behaviours and sensory loss. I attended the council meeting at Civic Centre Trowbridge last week. One person asked about supported people being made homeless, Mr Thompson County Councillor said that all people with LD are to be assessed for safety and then that would determine what services they get. I wonder does this mean that all residential care and people living at home with their families are going to be almost under house arrest because they will be deemed "safe". How normal is it not to have other people to meet and other opportunities to be gained that cannot be provided for in residential care. (27 Sep 2006)
Cuts in the South East
If we can afford war, we should pay for disabled care (26 Nov 2007)
Concern over day centre's future (2 Oct 2007)
Adult care centre under threat (1 Oct 2007)
Axe falls on learning disability service (15 Nov 2006)
Learning disability cuts will up costs elsewhere (17 Feb 2006)
Comments from ARC Members in the South East:
NAME: Martin Lenaerts EMAIL: mtp@milestonenet.co.uk
COMMENTS: One of our roles is to enable people who use our services to learn what is required to become as independent as possible, ensuring they have the knowledge and abilities to sustain that independence. In order to reach this level of ability they need a period of practical learning, not just learning about, but living their learning. Deprive them of this and you deprive them of the right to the quality of life that should be theirs, a life style they were promised in Valuing People! (24 Jan 2007)
NAME: Veronica Burgess EMAIL: v@tobyhomes.freeserve.co.uk
COMMENTS: In Wokingham, there are plans to only offer services to people who have 'critical' needs. Those already in residential care are OK, but day services will be slashed to 2.5 days instead of 5. Services to all client sectors will be affected, but from our LD perspective it looks grim. I fear for those living with very elderly parents as their future will not be planned, but will be subject to a future 'critical' situation. (12 Dec 2006)
Cuts in London
Bromley: Learning centre closure outrage (18 Oct 2007)
Camden: Axe falls on disabled project (18 Jun 2007)
Redbridge: Social Service cuts 'callous' (25 Jan 2007)
Council fighting to stop new health budget cuts (7 Jan 2007)
Waltham Forest: New Year, new cuts (5 Jan 2007)
Brent PCT plans to cut services for people with a learning disability (1 Dec 2006)
Cuts in the Scotland
Mean council cuts £2 jobs for disabled workers (19 Mar 2008)
Capital in meltdown as cash crisis hits the elderly (22 Aug 2007)
Cutbacks bring fears on care for disabled groups (23 Oct 2006) Aberdeenshire
Charges for community care to rise as cuts bite - Shetland Times - Lerwick,Scotland,UK
... Other changes that may be implemented by managers include opening the Eric Gray Resource Centre for people with learning disabilities to three days a week ...
Cuts in Northern Ireland
Cuts in Wales
Parents speak out at Caernarfon centre's closure (13 Feb 2008)
Plan to slash learning disabilities budget causes outrage in Cardiff (Nov 2006)
Cutback fears over care deficits (6 Nov 2006)
Broken promises lead to broken lives (4 Oct 2006)
Send us your comments:
CUTS BEGINNING TO BITE?
Do you believe the local authority cuts in your area are undermining the principles of Valuing People (or its counterparts in Scotland, N.Ireland & Wales)?
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