Fight to save day centre in Southall
By James Gates
Protesting against the closure of the Albert Dane Centre & Links Mental Health Project.
THE THREAT of closure looms over a day centre in Southall as users and their families fight to save it.
The Albert Dane Centre in Western Road provides services and activities to improve well-being for people aged 18 to 64 years who suffer from disability or physical impairment.
The Links Project provides a service for adults with significant mental health needs borough wide.
But now Ealing Council is considering whether to close the services, open five days a a week and looks after more than 60 people.
Bernadette Khoshaba, whose aunt Deklat Daniel attends the centre said: “This centre is essential, giving people like my aunt the opportunity and confidence to interact with others, learn so many things and make friends in a safe environment.
“The council should be seen to be actively supporting and engaging in a duty of care in the community for such groups, and not to use them as an easy target group to make cuts.”
Mrs Daniel said: “The centre is so important to so many people. We have all gotten to know each other while using it and more than anything it feels like a family. We need that desparately”
Val Garrard chairperson of Albert Dane service users commitee appeals for support on streets of Ealing.
Mrs Daniel said further petitioning will be carried out in the future.
A spokesman for Ealing Council said: “The council must find £53 million of budget reductions by 2014 because of cuts in funding from central government. Tough decisions will have to be made and we are reviewing all our operations.
"The Albert Dane Centre needs considerable investment to bring it up to a decent, modern standard and we believe customers' needs could be better met by us helping them to find alternative support. This is likely to be within the private sector".
"We would like to emphasise that no decisions have yet been taken. The council is carrying out a consultation and assessment to ensure the proposals would not have an adverse impact on people with critical and substantial needs and we will ensure there are enough alternative services available for those customers eligible for our support.”
Letters: Dignity should not be a victim of cuts
(Letter To The Gazette)
WE ALL know that in both local and national government difficult choices have to be made about where money is spent. However, I was shocked to find out about the proposed closure of the Albert Dane day centre and other services.
Speaking to a user of the services made me realise that the impact on perhaps our borough's quietest and most vulnerable residents would be devastating.
The council leader talks of how the coalition government is to blame for the position the borough is in and the resulting cuts. But the council still has choices of where money can be saved. All parties in recent years have talked about charities and other groups getting involved in services and I understand that a local church is interested in putting money into the centre. So this would be a win-win situation all round.
I have heard from councillors that a consultation is taking place and yet the closure and sale of this centre appears to have been decided.
The sense of community and dignity in very difficult lives has immense value. By providing it we set a standard as a civilised society.
My disabled girlfriend passed away last year and to her, being a part of society was something that meant everything.
If these closures go ahead it will set a standard within Ealing that would bring lasting shame in a new administration. I just hope that all councillors and officers will work hard and creatively to find a better way and ensure that Ealing is a place where we can all live in dignity.
PETER CHADBURN
Campbell Road
Hanwell
Speaking to a user of the services made me realise that the impact on perhaps our borough's quietest and most vulnerable residents would be devastating.
The council leader talks of how the coalition government is to blame for the position the borough is in and the resulting cuts. But the council still has choices of where money can be saved. All parties in recent years have talked about charities and other groups getting involved in services and I understand that a local church is interested in putting money into the centre. So this would be a win-win situation all round.
I have heard from councillors that a consultation is taking place and yet the closure and sale of this centre appears to have been decided.
The sense of community and dignity in very difficult lives has immense value. By providing it we set a standard as a civilised society.
My disabled girlfriend passed away last year and to her, being a part of society was something that meant everything.
If these closures go ahead it will set a standard within Ealing that would bring lasting shame in a new administration. I just hope that all councillors and officers will work hard and creatively to find a better way and ensure that Ealing is a place where we can all live in dignity.
PETER CHADBURN
Campbell Road
Hanwell
Irene Alizalwa, member of Albert Dane Users Commitee hands out leaflets protesting at the Albert Dane centre closure on the streets of Ealing.
Well this just article just speaks for itself really.....
with thanks to The Ealing Gazette
THE COUNCIL SAY IT WILL TAKE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BRING THE CENTRE UP TO SAFETY STANDARDS (THEY HAVE KNOWN THIS FOR YEARS) WHAT THEY DON'T TELL THE PUBLIC IS THAT SOUTHALL BAPTIST CHURCH HAS OFFERED TO PUT UP THE MONEY FOR THESE REPAIRS SO COUNCILLORS DON'T MAKE THAT THE EXCUSE YOU JUST WANT THE REVINUE THAT SELLING THE BUILDING AND LAND WILL BRING TO YOU
ReplyDeletebECAUSE THE LABOUR COUNCILLORS HAVE NO BALLS AND SIMPLY FOLLOW THE LEADER WE LOST LAST NITES VOTE. LIB DEMS AND CONSERVATIVES VOTED FOR US 100% SO MAYBE IF JUST SOME OF THE LAB COUNCILLORS GROW THERE OWN BALLS THEY MAY DO LIKEWISE AND VOTE FOR KEEPING THE CENTRE OPEN ON THE 9TH NOV AT THE CABINET MEETING ALTHOUGH ANAND IS ON THE CABINET AND HER SELF OPIONIONATED THOUGHTS WOULD MAKE ANY ONES BALL SHRIVEL UP. ROUND 2 COMING UP
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