Skip to content

'I would go back in a hole if charity scheme cut'

BBC Four people sitting in a line on a striped sofa - the woman on the left has blonde hair and a grey top. The woman next to her is dressed all in black with a hood up. The next woman is blonde and wearing a green top and black trousers. The man on the right has a blue shite, a necklace, blue trousers and blue trainers.BBC
People supported by Grapevine including Ellie, Julie Field and her son Lucas have voiced concerns over potential council cuts

The user of a charity which helps people with learning difficulties has said she would "go back into a hole" if it was hit by funding cuts.

Ellie, who did not wish to give her last name, said the support from Coventry charity Grapevine has helped her become more independent and confident.

But there are fears its Help and Connect programme, which also supports people who are autistic, could be scrapped if Coventry City Council goes ahead with proposed cuts to grants.

The council said no decisions would be made until consultation on its budget ended on 28 January.

"It's wholly inadequate to start with, and it's going to be even less."

Speaking to BBC CWR, Ellie, 21, said the charity helped her to "achieve her goals" which included joining a football club and learning to drive.

Asked what would happen if the scheme was cut, she said: "I would just go back into a hole – not going out, not socialising.

"That will just make me feel down and not confident in myself."

'Big sense of pride'

Julie Field's son Lucas, 19, is autistic and has a number of conditions.

Ms Field said he was struggling to connect with people and socialise since leaving college, until they sought support from Grapevine.

She said the charity had since helped him go out without his parents, and supported him through his fear of medical appointments.

"It's been a big sense of pride for him and for me as well. It's nice to not have that worry and that panic," she explained.

Ms Field said any cut to the Help and Connect programme would come just as he was starting to "find his way into the community".

"I think he'd lose confidence in trusting people. This has taken a long time to build up – it isn't easy," she said.

"I don't think there's another service like it and I think we're really going to struggle."

'Balanced budget'

Coventry City Council's budget proposals came as the authority faced a funding gap of more than £13m.

It proposed to make savings across adult and children's social care as well as by reducing voluntary sector grants, among other measures.

A spokesperson for the authority said: "We appreciate all the comments we are getting from residents and providers, and this feedback will help us set a balanced budget, which we need to do by law."

Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

More on this story
Related internet links