GMB to campaign against cuts to disabled children’s services in East Sussex.

GMB calls for a campaign against proposed cuts by East Sussex County Council to services to children with severe disabilities and special educational needs.

The proposals must be stopped, East Sussex County Council need to act now to save the service and ensure invaluable hardworking staff are retained says GMB Southern

GMB, the union for workers in East Sussex County Council, are calling for a halt to proposed cuts to children’s services including those with disabilities and special educational needs within East Sussex.

East Sussex County Council are proposing to cut the number of after school and weekend clubs for children with disabilities, special educational needs and behavioural issues. The cuts will mean a further reduction in support available for these children and their families.

Proposed cuts of £70-£90m by March 2019 are being looked at in several areas including community care, drop-in activity at children’s centres, services for carers and children with special educational needs.

Karen Cooke, GMB organiser said “If these cuts are implemented it could result in parents and carers being unable to cope and more children going into full time care. This is not only devastating for these children and their families but will cost the public thousands of pounds.

This will clearly have a major detrimental effect on them. They have already faced a cut to respite care as the two available facilities which were used are now at capacity with full time residents. Clearly staff will also be affected as redundancies are anticipated at the end of the current 40 day consultation. GMB are calling for a halt to these proposals with immediate effect.

What beggars belief is the parents and children that will be directly affected are not even being consulted with. The proposals must be stopped, ESCC need to act now to save the service and ensure invaluable hardworking staff are retained.”

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Contact: Karen Cooke 07740 517220
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