Aberdeenshire day services group won't give up, despite council cuts
A recent announcement by Aberdeenshire Council is going to have a huge impact to vulnerable children and adults in the North-east.
We all remember Willowbank and the support provided by a dedicated team of staff, looking after vulnerable children and adults, with both complex physical and mental health disabilities.
Council cutting measures, a few years back, meant the closure of day care services at Willowbank and these moved to Robertson Road Centre, Fraserburgh.
Now last month, the same families who were impacted back then have been told that 80 per cent of those being looked after by Day Care Services will no longer be able to receive their support due to proposed cutbacks by Aberdeenshire Council.
Not only that, but those who will still meet the criteria will not be provided with transport to get them there.
These are individuals with severe physical disabilities who require special assistance and vehicles which can accommodate electric wheelchairs etc.
One mother and carer recently appealed to the council to reconsider.
She said: “These cutbacks will severely impact my daughter Stephanie, who is a vulnerable adult with special needs, under my care.
“Stephanie has a diagnosis of Down Syndrome, and the day care service gives her a purpose to get up every day and go to her ‘work’ as she likes to call it.
“Stephanie takes part in groups within the day care service and is also a valued member of the ‘Shop & Drop’ service.
“What purpose will she have when this has all been taken away?
“These decisions are already having an impact on Stephanie’s well-being.
“She is showing signs of severe anxiety and stress and crying emotionally when I have tried to explain these changes to her.
“I am now concerned that she is showing signs of early depression.”
While a group of family members and carers continue the fight to reverse these cuts, funding has already been pulled for a Tuesday community group.
Every Tuesday, a group of service users, under the care of Buchan Day Care Services, and previously funded by the council, have had the opportunity to develop their communication and engagement skills, by serving teas to the public in the morning and taking part in a fundraising afternoon of prize bingo.
Kirsty Gillies, a Support Co-ordinator with Day Care Services, has given up her day off to keep the doors open on a Tuesday at the Buchanhaven Heritage Centre.
Kirsty wasn’t alone on her first day, she had plenty help from day care service users, who are about to lose out due to the council cutbacks, delighted that they will still have somewhere to go on a Tuesday.
Day one of the Tuesday Dare Care activities, independent of council funding, went really well last week, with a good turn out; and the service users who were able to attend enjoyed their day mixing with the locals and serving up a good cuppa, morning rolls and biscuits, followed by an afternoon of prize bingo.
Peterhead-based company ASCO got in touch with Kirsty when they heard about the possible closure and arrived in the morning with loads of teas, coffees, juices and goodies to give Kirsty and the team a good start off.
Kirsty and the Tuesday Group have been reaching out to many local businesses, like ASCO, and the general public to ask for their support to keep the doors open.
The hire of the Heritage Centre on a Tuesday is approximately £280 a month and the hope is that some local businesses may offer to pay a month’s hiring fees, or part of a month’s fees.
Of course, there are other costs involved, included prizes for the prize bingo afternoons.
The group are also looking for a new name, so if you have ideas you can sent them to Kirsty at [email protected].
As cutbacks will affect most Day Care Services, Kirsty is hoping that, as funding grows, other activities which are being stopped by the funding cuts, may be able to start up again.
If you can make a donation, cash or gift, or offer any kind of support, you can get in touch with Kirsty, or with Phil Robertson, of Giveall2Charity, who are facilitating the fundraising process on their website.
Phil can be contacted at [email protected] or by calling 07979 967 461.
Businesses may also want to look at ways of involving their employees to fundraise for the Tuesday Support Group, and Phil can help with this.
You can make a donation here using a debit or credit card, just scan the QR Code on this page. If you want to make a donation of over £100 then direct bank details for the charity account can be provided by Phil.