Residents in shock as Buddies closes its doors

Buddies, founded 11 years ago, helps children, some of whom are disabled, to attended mainstream leisure groups with the help of a volunteer "buddy".
The chairman of the management committee, Matthew Charters, cited a number of reasons for the closure including a decline in the numbers of families using the service from 30 in recent years down to 10 presently. Some volunteers leaving the management committee and problems raising extra funding were also factors he said.
Volunteers and users were told via and email on Thursday, January 31 that the service was stopping as of this week.
When asked whether he had given the volunteers and families enough notice of the closure, Mr Charters said that in hindsight, the situation could have been handled differently but that the charity was not an organisation that met every day.
Parents and volunteers in West Berkshire have spoken of their dismay at the cut to the service and at how quickly it was stopped.
Lynette Allen whose autistic son Adrian used the service, said: "I don't understand why they have suddenly closed.
"Me and my son are very sad to see Helen our volunteer go without warning."
And Vicky Hind of Paddock Road, Newbury whose seven-year-old daughter Iona went to Rainbows and now Brownies agreed, adding:
"For the service to just go like that has been very distressing for us as a family.
“Its been so shocking that there has been no notice.”
Sarah Martinez's son, Saul aged nine, has severe allergies and was previously been turned away from a scout group because they could not cope with his allergies.
He had just been accepted to attend a new pack in Greenham with the help of two volunteer pupils from St Bartholomew's School.
Mrs Martinez said: "If they go with a volunteer, there’s that freedom rather than having a parent – it’s not normal if your mum is there.
"Saul attends mainstream school so he wants to do activities with his friends."
Tracy Lewis from Newbury has an autistic five year old daughter, Abi,who attends Rainbows with a buddy.
Responding to comments that the sevice was not needed as much, she said she had held back asking for more help through fear of feeling selfish but said that Abi could always have more buddy time during the week.
She said that she would try and help, including paying, if there were anyway of re-instating the service, and added: "This was a lifeline for parents because we need the break. I feel emotional about it because it was so sudden."
Jayne Roderick from Hampstead Norreys, whose son has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, has been using buddies for four years.
She said: "In that time he has formed a lovely, friendly relationship with his own buddy who regularly takes him swimming.
"His disorder means he finds it difficult to make friends and socialise and in some contexts he barely says a word, so this relationship is very valuable to him."