'Sleepless nights' for users of under threat centre for disabled people amid closure fears
Users and carers of a centre for severely disabled people have had "sleepless nights" since Dudley Council announced a massive cut to its budget.
Cash-strapped Dudley Council is proposing to slash nearly a million pounds from the budget of the Unicorn Centre in Amblecote, Stourbridge, over the next two years and closure is not being ruled out.
The mother of a woman with complex needs, who is scared she will lose touch with her friends at the centre, wants councillors to think again.
Wendy Morris, aged 55, said: “The centre is vital for her care, her friendships, her mental health, the thought of losing the centre – I haven’t slept. I have been scared about what the future will hold for her.”
Wendy’s 32-year-old daughter is profoundly physically disabled, non-verbal and needs round-the-clock care.
Wendy said: “It took staff a year-and-a-half to understand how to care for her and how to mobilise her safely. To send her somewhere where staff don’t understand her care needs could impact on her limited mobility, if it goes to in-home care I can’t see that working.
“She has made friends there and will go and engage with them as limited as that is. She loves the staff and it’s taken a long time for her to build her trust to have people caring for her, to have that ripped away will have a detrimental effect across the board for her.”
Council health chiefs say they are looking at other options for Unicorn Centre users including sending them to the Queens Cross Network in Dudley.
Ken McClymont, from Dudley Centre for Inclusive Living, said: “Queen’s Cross Network is not as big as Unicorn and it certainly couldn’t cope and take in all the people that are here. People there are higher functioning. People who go there will have nowhere to go because the move from here will take over the building.”
Mr McClymont is calling for a public meeting for councillors to explain their plans to families, carers and service users and to give people a chance to have their say. He launched an online petition to show councillors the depth of feeling amongst those who need the Unicorn Centre. To sign the petition visit https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-the-unicorn-cemtre-from-closure .
Councillor Matt Rogers, Dudley cabinet member for adult social care, says there is no need for a public meeting.
Cllr Rogers said: “We are in contact with all the families concerned, we can’t do anything until it goes to full council and we have a decision. All service users have a dedicated social worker to keep them up to date.
“It is still early days, we are still looking at options and nothing is finalised. As soon as we get further information we will continue to communicate and consult with service users and look into options for everyone involved.”
Mrs Morris, who only found out about the centre's plight from the media, said: “I think it’s absolutely disgraceful – they are thinking of making these cuts without even meeting these clients and families to hear our voices.
“They are kicking the can down the street – they really need to think again. It will be lost forever and where are they going to stick those people who need to be supported?”
