Lincolnshire County Council to protect services for disabled children

Lincolnshire County Council has announced that it will continue to provide holiday clubs, youth groups and community group activities for children and young people with complex and special needs.

As previously reported, a petition had been set up by parents of disabled children concerned that the county council would change the services it offered after its £570,000 contract with Action for Children expires at the end of September.

The council recently held a consultation with parents and carers over the Short Breaks programme going forward at the end of the current contract.

As a result of the feedback received, the council is asking for parents, carers and children who use the services to help shape the new contract once the present contract finishes.

The council has said that other supporting provision is also required to sit alongside the holiday clubs, youth group and community group activities.

There are also plans to implement a grant development programme for providers, to assist them in providing services which are inclusive for children with disabilities.

Parents and carers are expected to have an input into this to create a sustainable market place, offering a range of support going forward.

People can contact the Short Breaks Team directly on 01522 553 536 or email [email protected].

The council will also work with schools around the county to ensure after-school activities are developed and maintained where they are most needed.

Lorena Hall, spokesperson for the Lincolnshire Short Breaks Action Group, said: “We as a group welcome the news that Lincolnshire County Council have re-examined their proposals and are delighted they intend to involve parents in planning future services.

“However, we are waiting to hear how services are going to be provided and funded. We are cautious as they have not clarified what they are offering, we should be receiving a letter later today to outline the decision they have made.

“Until we have seen this information we still won’t really know if our fight is over. The details will be fundamental as targeted services for children with disabilities and complex needs need to be provided in the long-term and without the threat of mainstream universal services being considered to take over these specialist services, and ideally regulated appropriately.”