Hi all, we wanted to say just how grateful we are for all your support in signing the petition. A LOT has been going on in the background. Because of all your support, the council took notice and this did manage to persuade the commissioners to keep a little more of the service, although not a great deal. They are still doing a little more jiggling with the funding as they realised how damaging it was.
The clients and staff, including those who were made redundant and those who were able to stay, have been through a horrid time, but one good thing that has happened as a result of all the campaigning is that it has brought our community closer and friendships have strengthened.
BUT! The most exciting and incredible piece of news is that one of the peer support workers who was made redundant has set up, out of her own time and money, a mental health community group called We Are All A Bit Bananas for the clients. (There is a running joke about bananas that started in the singing group when singing Fruit Canon as a warmup!)
This is every Monday at One Church, Florence Road, who have very kindly given us their space to use. This fills a huge gaping hole that was left and the clients are made up and relieved that there is now another alternative whole day to meet up and continue to do wellbeing activities together again.
A community Crowdfunder has been set up to create a sustainable bank of resources for the weekly community group, which include costs such as heating and lighting costs, tea, coffee, biscuits and fruit, art supplies, printer ink, jigsaws and puzzles, and taxi fares for the most vulnerable and disabled who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend amongst other costs.
We would be so grateful if you could make a donation no matter how small, to help cover these costs and to keep it afloat for the foreseeable future, or if you can share it that would be so wonderful too.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/we-are-all-a-bit-bananas
For now, we can say this petition has been successful and we are now recovering and rising from the ashes. Thank you, from the bottom of all our hearts xxx