December 11th & Ealing Council's List Of Shameful Spending

11.12.12: Parents, carers, supporters & Unison members lobby Ealing Councillors & Protest against plans to close 2 Day centre's for the Learning Disabled

 

 

Parents, carers, supporters & trade unionists stood on the steps of Ealing Town Hall on the chilly evening of the 11th December to lobby Ealing Councillor's attending Town Hall meetings (particularly the ruling Labour group) and protest strongly against the deeply unpleasant attack on the day service's of the Ealing learning disability community. Ealing Council has made proposals to close two day centre's (Stirling Road & Learning Curve - both in Acton) that provide vital day opportunities to those with a learning disability. Leaflets outlining the plans were handed to passers by with much support gained that has strengthened public opposition in the locality to this cruel attack on our most vulnerable residents.

 

 

 

'Ealing's Forgotten'

 

Ealing has said repeatedly that it has provided alternatives in the area as part of a currently running consultation with parents, carers and users of the two centre's. It is plain that in reality this is simply untrue and the council is decieving the public. There are no services that even go near to providing the two invaluable services that the two day centre's have given to the Ealing learning disability community for more than 30 years. It is very likely that users will end up, if the closure's go ahead in May 2013, with very little; if any contact with longstanding friendship groupings and the outside world at large. They are likely to become Ealing's 'forgotten' community , stuck inside their homes with elderly carers struggling to care for them.

 

Taxpayers Money Wasted

 

This is a sad indictment of the lack of real creative thought that the council has shown in making the savings it is being forced to make following the coalition government's slashing of it's annual budget. Yet it still feels it is neccessary to spend ludicrous amounts of the taxpayers money employing consultants and interim staff, building car parks, updating computer systems and purchasing desks for it's Perceval House HQ.

 

Surely the needs of the most vulnerable are more important.

 

Priorities Ealing Labour ?

 

Ealing's List of shame

 

• Ealing Council spent £6.3 Million pounds of taxpayers money employing consultants & interim staff April 2011 - April 2012
• Ealing Council is spending £5.5 Million on another car park in Southall (with a loan that will cost £500, 000 a year to service)
• Ealing Council spent £3.6 Million on a new Council wide computer system & £1
  Million on new desks (apparently the old one's were too long!)

If as a taxpayer you feel agrieved at such ludicrous spending please make it known.

LINKS

You can still express your'e anger at how services are being decimated locally. You can write to your councillor, MP, the local newspaper or national media.

Here are some local links to help you:

You can email your protests directly to Cllr Jasbir Anand, portfolio holder for Adult & Children Social Services
here at jasbir.anand@ealing.gov.uk

You can also email Stephen Day who is the director of Adult
Social Services days@ealing.gov.uk or even give him a call on 020 8825 9315

Martin Smith is the Chief Executive of Ealing Council, (and doing well on £180k a year!) - he has two email's with which you can contact him on smithm@ealing.gov.uk or chiefexecutive@ealing.gov.uk

Gary Malcom is the Leader of the Lib Dem Group on Ealing Council malcomg@ealing.gov.uk

Harvey Rose is another Lib Dem who has been positively involved with Day Centre issues before roseh@ealing.gov.uk

Jason Stacey is the opposition Conservative leader jason.stacey@ealing.gov.uk

Greg Stafford is the opposition Conservative spokesman for Adult & Children Social Services gregory.stafford@ealing.gov.uk

Mark Reen was opposition Conservative spokesman for Adult & Children Social Services in the previous administration mark.reen@ealing.gov.uk

Angie Bray is the Conservative MP for Ealing Central & Acton angie.bray.mp@parliament.uk

Virendra Sharma is the Labour MP for Ealing Southall constituency sharmav@parliament.uk

Steve Pound is the genial MP for the neighbouring constituency of Ealing Northstevepoundmp@parliament.uk

The Ealing Learning Disability Partnership Board

is a group charged with defending the rights of service users in the borough and ensuring they get good services. You can fill out a contact form with your concerns about proposed closures at:http://www.openupealing.net/form.aspx?page=12846

The contact email for The Ealing Gazette is at: http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/site-map/contact-us-ealing-gazette/

The contact email for The Ealing Times is at: http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/contact_us/

 

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Stirling Rd & Learning Curve Day Centre's Closure Proposals: Latest News

 

Please join us on Tuesday 11th December to protest against these cruel proposals and lobby councillors about it.

At a public meeting in Acton last week parents, carers and the local community heard moving speeches and testimonies regarding the closure proposals and what could happen to vulnerable learning disabled people if these valuable day services for adults with learning disabilities if they are closed. The centres will close in May 2013 if the proposals are endorsed by councillors.

 

One parent (in tears), told how difficult it been for her child and how he had been taunted in mainstream education and how he had progressed enormously and gained qualifications that will enable him to gainfully find work soon under the guiding hand of of Learning Curve.

Another parent (who's 45 yr old child attends Stirling Rd Centre) worried that her child would be lonely and depressed and miss her friends when Stirling Rd closes - she has attended the day centre for almost 25 yrs.

 

"In the consultation they say, 'Oh, but there is all these other things for your child to do' But it's not true - there is nothing"

 

A further public meeting will be held in due course.

 

LINKS

 

You can still express your'e anger at how services are being decimated locally. You can write to your councillor, MP, the local newspaper or national media.

Here are some local links to help you:

You can email your protests directly to Cllr Jasbir Anand, portfolio holder for Adult & Children Social Services
here at jasbir.anand@ealing.gov.uk

You can also email Stephen Day who is the director of Adult
Social Services days@ealing.gov.uk or even give him a call on 020 8825 9315

Martin Smith is the Chief Executive of Ealing Council, (and doing well on £180k a year!) - he has two email's with which you can contact him on smithm@ealing.gov.uk or chiefexecutive@ealing.gov.uk

Gary Malcom is the Leader of the Lib Dem Group on Ealing Council malcomg@ealing.gov.uk

Harvey Rose is another Lib Dem who has been positively involved with Day Centre issues before roseh@ealing.gov.uk

Jason Stacey is the opposition Conservative leader jason.stacey@ealing.gov.uk

Greg Stafford is the opposition Conservative spokesman for Adult & Children Social Services gregory.stafford@ealing.gov.uk

Mark Reen was opposition Conservative spokesman for Adult & Children Social Services in the previous administration mark.reen@ealing.gov.uk

Angie Bray is the Conservative MP for Ealing Central & Acton angie.bray.mp@parliament.uk

Virendra Sharma is the Labour MP for Ealing Southall constituency sharmav@parliament.uk

Steve Pound is the genial MP for the neighbouring constituency of Ealing Northstevepoundmp@parliament.uk

The Ealing Learning Disability Partnership Board

is a group charged with defending the rights of service users in the borough and ensuring they get good services. You can fill out a contact form with your concerns about proposed closures at:
http://www.openupealing.net/form.aspx?page=12846

The contact email for The Ealing Gazette is at:
http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/site-map/contact-us-ealing-gazette/

The contact email for The Ealing Times is at:
http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/contact_us/



STOP The Closure Of Stirling Rd & Learning Curve Day Centres!

 

Public Meeting

 

All Welcome

 

 

Following a successful lobby of Ealing's Labour Councillors (who have the proposed the two Day Centre closures) on Monday Nov 26th there will now be a Public Meeting to be held on Thursday Dec 6th from 7pm - 9pm at:

 

 Michael Flanders Centre, Church Rd, Acton W3 8PP. (Click link above for directions).

 

There will be speakers representing both centres scheduled for closure, parents & carers and local organisations campaigning to save services for the learning disabled.

 

PLEASE come and show your support and/or discuss how these desparately needed services for the most vulnerable in our community can be saved.

 

 

Lobby & Protest against closures 26.11.12 at Ealing Town Hall. Ealing Council will save a mere £200, 000 closing Stirling Rd Day Centre for the Learning Disabled yet doesn't worry about spending £6.3 million on Consultant fees!

 



Coverage in the local Ealing Gazette of the closure plans.

The services are provided to promote and support learning disabled people to become more independent and access their community through community-based projects & activities.

Attendees of the centres will see their daily activities curtailed, the centres closed (and as seems most likely sold off) and are to be given a 'personal budget' to 'buy' their own day activities. Since this will inevitably cost them much more than at present they will see less and less of the 'outside world' and their daily lives (not to mention friendships built up over years) will dissolve.

Please Come and Join us to STOP this direct ATTACK on the Most Vulnerable People in OUR Community!

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LINKS

You can still express your'e anger at how services are being decimated locally. You can write to your councillor, MP, the local newspaper or national media.

Here are some local links to help you:

You can email your protests directly to Cllr Jasbir Anand, portfolio holder for Adult & Children Social Services
here at jasbir.anand@ealing.gov.uk

You can also email Stephen Day who is the director of Adult
Social Services days@ealing.gov.uk or even give him a call on 020 8825 9315

Martin Smith is the Chief Executive of Ealing Council, (and doing well on £160k a year!) - he has two email's with which you can contact him on smithm@ealing.gov.uk or chiefexecutive@ealing.gov.uk

Gary Malcom is the Leader of the Lib Dem Group on Ealing Council malcomg@ealing.gov.uk

Harvey Rose is another Lib Dem who has been positively involved with Day Centre issues before roseh@ealing.gov.uk

Jason Stacey is the opposition Conservative leader jason.stacey@ealing.gov.uk

Greg Stafford is the opposition Conservative spokesman for Adult & Children Social Services gregory.stafford@ealing.gov.uk

Mark Reen was opposition Conservative spokesman for Adult & Children Social Services in the previous administration mark.reen@ealing.gov.uk

Angie Bray is the Conservative MP for Ealing Central & Acton angie.bray.mp@parliament.uk

Virendra Sharma is the Labour MP for Ealing Southall constituency sharmav@parliament.uk

Steve Pound is the genial MP for the neighbouring constituency of Ealing Northstevepoundmp@parliament.uk

The Ealing Learning Disability Partnership Board

is a group charged with defending the rights of service users in the borough and ensuring they get good services. You can fill out a contact form with your concerns about proposed closures at:http://www.openupealing.net/form.aspx?page=12846

The contact email for The Ealing Gazette is at: http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/site-map/contact-us-ealing-gazette/

The contact email for The Ealing Times is at: http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/contact_us/

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

STOP The Closure Of Stirling Rd & Learning Curve Day Centres!

 

Public Lobby & Protest

 

Monday 26th November

Ealing Town Hall

5.30 - 7pm

 

 

Please Come and Join us to STOP this direct ATTACK on the Most Vulnerable People in OUR Community!

 

 

There has been coverage of the proposed closures of Stirling Rd Day Centre & Learning Curve Centre in The Ealing Gazette:

 



http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/local-ealing-news/2012/11/23/council-to-close-centre-for-disabled-people-64767-32293455/

 

The services are provided to promote and support learning disabled people to become more independent and access their community through community-based projects & activities.

Attendees of the centres will see their daily activities curtailed, the centres closed (and as seems most likely sold off) and are to be given a 'personal budget' to 'buy' their own day activities. Since this will inevitably cost them much more than at present they will see less and less of the 'outside world' and their daily lives (not to mention friendships built up over years) will dissolve.

------------------------------------

LINKS

You can still express your'e anger at how services are being decimated locally. You can write to your councillor, MP, the local newspaper or national media.

Here are some local links to help you:

You can email your protests directly to Cllr Jasbir Anand, portfolio holder for Adult & Children Social Services
here at jasbir.anand@ealing.gov.uk

You can also email Stephen Day who is the director of Adult
Social Services days@ealing.gov.uk or even give him a call on 020 8825 9315

Martin Smith is the Chief Executive of Ealing Council, (and doing well on £160k a year!) - he has two email's with which you can contact him on smithm@ealing.gov.uk or chiefexecutive@ealing.gov.uk

Gary Malcom is the Leader of the Lib Dem Group on Ealing Council malcomg@ealing.gov.uk

Harvey Rose is another Lib Dem who has been positively involved with Day Centre issues before roseh@ealing.gov.uk

Jason Stacey is the opposition Conservative leader jason.stacey@ealing.gov.uk

Greg Stafford is the opposition Conservative spokesman for Adult & Children Social Services gregory.stafford@ealing.gov.uk

Mark Reen was opposition Conservative spokesman for Adult & Children Social Services in the previous administration mark.reen@ealing.gov.uk

Angie Bray is the Conservative MP for Ealing Central & Acton angie.bray.mp@parliament.uk

Virendra Sharma is the Labour MP for Ealing Southall constituency sharmav@parliament.uk

Steve Pound is the genial MP for the neighbouring constituency of Ealing Northstevepoundmp@parliament.uk

The Ealing Learning Disability Partnership Board

is a group charged with defending the rights of service users in the borough and ensuring they get good services. You can fill out a contact form with your concerns about proposed closures at:
http://www.openupealing.net/form.aspx?page=12846

The contact email for The Ealing Gazette is at:
http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/site-map/contact-us-ealing-gazette/

The contact email for The Ealing Times is at:
http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/contact_us/

 

STOP PRESS!!

 

A Public Demonstration & Lobby will be held to protest against this cruel proposal.

 

Monday 26th November - Ealing Town Hall New Broadway, Ealing 5.30 - 7pm.

 

Please come and join us to air your disgust at this lamentable decision.

Ealing Disabled Community Shocked As Two Day Centres for the Learning Disabled Are Proposed To Close and over 100 jobs are Put At Risk.

In shocking news revealed of late the London Borough of Ealing has made proposals to cabinet for swingeing cuts across most departments.
As is common few managerial posts are affected but most damaging of all is the proposal to axe two Day Centres for those with disabilities. 

The Stirling Road Day Centre in Stirling Rd, Acton has served those with learning disabilities for more than 30 years.

Stirling Road Centre is a day service, meeting the needs of adults with a learning disability. It provides a wide range of services, which include sport and leisure, health promotion, community based projects, work-based training and travel assistance.

The service is provided to promote and support people to become more independent and access their community through community-based projects.

Attendees of this centre will see their daily activities curtailed, the centre closed (and as seems most likely sold off) and are to be given a 'personal budget' to 'buy' their own day activities. Since this will inevitably cost them much more than at present they will see less and less of the 'outside world' and their daily lives (not to mention friendships built up over years) will dissolve.

Learning Curve centre, based in Roslin Rd, Acton, provides training for adults with learning disabilities. Their aim is to help people obtain the skills needed to get into work. It is a fully accredited training centre and provides training in basic skills, preparation for work, job seeking skills, office practice, retail and information technology. Learning Curve also supports disabled adults in work and can help find work experience placements. It runs a community café called Café Eat, which earns money through external catering.

The attendees of this centre will be similarly given a 'budget' to purchase their own activities & services and be 'signposted' to getting services 'in the social care market'.

A disgrace (especially for a Labour council).

LINKS

You can still express your'e anger at how services are being decimated locally. You can write to your councillor, MP, the local newspaper or national media.

Here are some local links to help you:

You can email your protests directly to Cllr Jasbir Anand, portfolio holder for Adult & Children Social Services
here at jasbir.anand@ealing.gov.uk

You can also email Stephen Day who is the director of Adult
Social Services days@ealing.gov.uk or even give him a call on 020 8825 9315

Martin Smith is the Chief Executive of Ealing Council, (and doing well on £180k a year!) - he has two email's with which you can contact him on smithm@ealing.gov.uk or chiefexecutive@ealing.gov.uk

Gary Malcom is the Leader of the Lib Dem Group on Ealing Council malcomg@ealing.gov.uk

Harvey Rose is another Lib Dem who has been positively involved with Day Centre issues before roseh@ealing.gov.uk

Jason Stacey is the opposition Conservative leader jason.stacey@ealing.gov.uk

Greg Stafford is the opposition Conservative spokesman for Adult & Children Social Services gregory.stafford@ealing.gov.uk

Mark Reen was opposition Conservative spokesman for Adult & Children Social Services in the previous administration mark.reen@ealing.gov.uk

Angie Bray is the Conservative MP for Ealing Central & Acton angie.bray.mp@parliament.uk

Virendra Sharma is the Labour MP for Ealing Southall constituency sharmav@parliament.uk

Steve Pound is the genial MP for the neighbouring constituency of Ealing Northstevepoundmp@parliament.uk

The Ealing Learning Disability Partnership Board

is a group charged with defending the rights of service users in the borough and ensuring they get good services. You can fill out a contact form with your concerns about proposed closures at:

http://www.openupealing.net/form.aspx?page=12846

The contact email for The Ealing Gazette is at:

http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/site-map/contact-us-ealing-gazette/

The contact email for The Ealing Times is at:

http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/contact_us/

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