Fight is on to save £4 a day ‘pittance’
Saturday 23rd January 2010, 2:29PM GMT.
Grow Ltd assistant manager Andy Le Heron is appalled that HSSD cuts mean that adults with disabilities face losing the allowance that Grow will continue to pay its workers. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0905903)
CUTTING the attendance payment for the adult disability service has appalled the chairwoman of Mencap.
Health and Social Services announced the measure on Thursday as part of widespread cuts aimed at saving £6m.
Although the department pays for day services for adults with disabilities to help them reach their full potential, it no longer wants to pay people for attending.
‘It’s horrendous that they’ve stopped the allowance,’ said Marlene Le Ray.
‘There is precious little we can do about it, but Mencap and other parties will put up a fight.’
Sixty-nine islanders receive the allowance and take part in activities at St Martin’s Community Centre where they receive £1 a day, and at Jaimaica Hall, where they receive £4 a day through the Interwork Service.
‘They go and they get a pittance. I’m absolutely appalled,’ said Miss Le Ray.
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I used to work at Grow. This sounds like a case of injustice against the weak. Hope the HSSD does a U-turn.
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slep, I think your right there. these people deserve all the assistance they can get, they deserve the utmost respect as after all dispite their problems at least they make the effort to work unlike people on other benefits. I think we are targeting the wrong group of people here, the cuts should be made for the able bodied spongers of society that sign on each week and can’t be bothered to work!
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If you care anything about the community that we live in you will do everything possible to get this despicable decision reversed.
The stopping of the attendance allowance for people with a learning disability is a decision that beggars belief.
The fact that HSSD has made this decision to cut costs using one of the most vunerable groups in our community is appalling.
This pityful amount of money means a huge amount to those individuals affected and the removal of the allowance will have a major impact on their self esteem.
Please lobby your Deputies on this issue otherwise we will all have to live with the fact that the public coffers have been enhanced by taking from the most vulnerable in our community.
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Shame on you, HSSD. Picking on some of the most vulnerable members of our society. You’re also saving money by picking on Alderney as well. The latest is that you won’t send any therapists/workers there but Alderney residents have to come here at the expense of GSSA. So one therapist flight sees several people, now several people have to fly here. OMG, robbing Peter to pay Paul, less cost to HSSD, more cost to GSSA. How on earth can this be justified. Please someone tell me I’m wrong.
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It’s disgusting. I have a relative who was very proud of his £12 a week for stuffing envelopes, sorting files and doing all those jobs which no-one else wants to do. He would save the money which he earned to spend some on himself and then birthday and Christmas presents. It’s not the same as just getting money direct into your bank account once a week. It was real money which he could see an appreciate, and a bit of dignity for those people who would struggle to work in mainstream jobs and get a proper wage. HSSD should be ashamed of themselves for taking money away from those who probably can’t fight for themselves!
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