Demonstration planned to stop funding cuts for Coventry charity outside council house
A demonstration will be held outside Coventry council house today (January 23) against the proposed cuts to voluntary sector services for people with learning difficulties. The Grapevine charity team, located on Upper Spon Street, may face cuts that will reduce an important service for young people with disabilities in the city.
The demonstration, which will take place between 5:30pm and 7pm, will coincide with the second and final council consultation meeting. It will include a list of proposals to 'save money' ahead of the February budget. One of the proposals includes cutting funding for those with learning difficulties who don't qualify for council support.
The council is set to propose a 42% cut to the funding, meaning there will be 'half as much money' available for services. This includes Grapevine's Help and Connect programme, which helps around 80 autistic and learning-disabled people a year gain employment, make connection, stay healthy and safe, as well as make a plan for their life.
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According to Mencap figures for adults in the UK who have a learning disability, the charity estimates there are over 7,000 people with learning disabilities in Coventry. The figures do not consider school-age children who will become adults or people moving into the city with a learning disability.
Grapevine bosses say people come to the city when they are struggling with mental health and need help with housing issues and debt because they are 'falling behind' with payments and getting scammed. They added that they are a 'vulnerable' group of people who don't qualify for council support due to 'austerity' with money getting tighter, meaning people try to cope alone or with family members.
One user of the charity, who wished not to be named, struggles to manage day-to-day life and travelling independently, and, on one occasion, stepped into moving traffic and narrowly avoided serious injury. The charity helped him develop his communication with others and build connections so he could grow his independence. Now, he attended Saturday coffee mornings and a walking group regularly.
Grapevine CEO Claire Wightman will attend today's demonstration. She said: "We are not against a balanced budget, and we sympathise with and understand the situation. But we think this is the wrong cut. And it won’t even save money because when people fall into crisis and can’t cope, the council, housing, police, and NHS end up stepping in any way, and it costs even more money to do that."
Coventry City Council's consultation period on the cuts ends on January 28, with more information available on the budget here. There is also a petition against the cuts by Grapevine, which you can read here.
Will you be affected by cuts to services in Coventry? email Priyanka.patel@reachplc.com
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