Campaigners vow to fight council plans to make charity cuts

Walsall Council needs to make savings of £29 million next year.

Ten jobs at the charity, Bloxwich Community Partnership, which runs the Stan Ball Centre for the over-50s and two other smaller centres, face the axe under the cuts.

Around 80 members of staff and service users gathered outside the Stan Ball Centre this week to show their anger at the proposals. And a petition containing 737 signatures has now been handed into the council.

Rachel Doherty, finance manager for the charity, said: "The council has proposed that it could be cutting funding for the charity.

"It will mean a reduction in the service that we provide at the Stan Ball Centre."

Mrs Doherty said a cut to the funding would mean the popular luncheon club which runs twice a week for elderly people would have to be axed.

She continued: "As old people become more and more isolated, they look forward to coming along to the luncheon club.

"It's the highlight of the week for some of them.

"We have an ageing population and this service is so vital."

Other activities at the centre including bingo and a gentle exercise class and they could also be lost.

"People are not happy about this," she added. "We also have a charity shop and a hairdressers at the centre."

Thirty-nine members of staff work for the charity and there is a team of 15 volunteers.

This year, Bloxwich Community Partnership received £165,785 from the council, including £135,000 for youth projects run from the Electric Palace in Elmore Row and at Blakenall Community Centre, in Blakenall Row.

A further £30,785 covers community development and events, including at the Stan Ball Centre, in Abbotts Street.

Walsall Council leader Sean Coughlan has said no decision has yet been made in terms of the budget cuts and he is due to visit the charity on December 15 to discuss the situation.

The centres attract 4,000 people per month to youth and holiday clubs, outreach projects, a daily luncheon club, sports and education classes.