Mencap devastated over funding cuts

Chief executive of the West Berkshire organisation warns that budget cuts could force children into care

THE HEAD of West Berkshire Mencap has predicted more children will end up in care if planned service cuts go ahead.

The group has been warned its annual £53,721.60 council funding for children's services could be slashed by more than half to £23,000 in 2012/13.

West Berkshire Council is proposing a series of cuts in children's services, which will see overall funding cut by £50,000.

Service providers such as West Berkshire Mencap, Dingley Family and Specialist Early Years Centre, based at Newbury Racecourse, and A2Dominion, who provide refuge and services to families affected by domestic abuse, will all be affected.

The council is also planning cuts to adult services, including a reduction of £85,000 in the voluntary and community sector and scrapping free hot meals for the district's most vulnerable residents to save £92,000.

West Berkshire Mencap chief executive Leila Ferguson said her branch, which employs about 100 staff, would have to lose ten to 15 staff if the cuts go ahead.

Mencap's services would also be affected, with capacity at its after school club and holiday clubs more than halved and other services removed. These cuts have a real impact on people's lives. The parents are devastated and outraged. For some parents we're their only help.

“I understand the local authority needs to make savings but if it pulls the plug on Mencap some children may end up in care because the parents can't cope. That will end up costing the council £100,000 to £150,000 a year per child. I think it's very short sighted of the council; yes this may save money in the short term but not in the long term.”

The council said it funded West Berkshire Mencap's overall children and adult services £416,231.40 this year which will be reduced by £64, 914.60 in 2012/13. However, these figures are disputed by Mencap, which say it only received £359,000 from the council this year.

Single parent Sally Hill (pictured with son) said parents will struggle if funding for children's services are slashed.

Mrs Hill's 14-year-old son, James, has autism and attends Mencap's after school club, which allows her to work as a teacher at Castle School in Love Lane, Newbury.

“Parents rely on their children being looked after so they can go to work. Society should be encouraging people to work even if they have got disabled children,” she said.

“There isn't anywhere else that provides the same specialist care so what will the council expect us to do?”

Sarah McGonnell's nine-year-old son, Ben, who has autism and a rare genetic disorder called Williams syndrome, has used Mencap's services since he was two-years-old.

The Hamstead Marshall resident, who works with special needs children as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, said: “To take money from such a disadvantaged group is just wrong. The strain on families is unbelievable and if these services are taken away it will be horrendous.

“There will be nowhere else for children to go if these cuts are made.”

Leader of Council and Conservative Group Leader, Graham Jones (Con, Lambourn) said: “These are a set of proposals being consulted on so we can understand what the impact would be.

“We need all feedback before we make the decision but at the end of the day there are still some very difficult decisions to be made because we have to take a lot of money out of the budget.”

For more information on the consultations, which end on January 20, 2012, visit ‘find a consultation' on the council's website at www.westberks.gov.uk