A CHARITY for people with learning disabilities says it is facing financial pressures in the Covid-19 pandemic due to rising demand and a lack of funding.
Demand for services offered by Spiral Sussex has tripled as many day centres for adults with learning disabilities have been unable to reopen after lockdown.
The Brighton charity said grants issued by the National Lottery and the government helped keep them afloat last year, but the end of the furlough scheme has led to further pressures.
Manager Chris Page said: “Because care services have been stretched to the limit, it’s easy for adults with these difficulties to be missed and left watching TV all day everyday.”
Mr Page said that in the 1960s there were eight day centres in Brighton, but these have almost all closed due to lack of government funding to local councils.
He said there was now only “half” of a council funded centre left in the city.
Spiral Sussex offers a range of day services to clients including training courses, trips out and an on site radio station.
Mr Page feels that the government acted too slowly in the first year of the pandemic and that adults with learning difficulties were “ignored” until eventually being mentioned in government guidelines in January.
A report by Public Health England found that adults with learning difficulties were up to six times more likely to die from the virus than any other group in the country during the first wave last year.
This figure has led to concern from the charity about the possible easing of mask wearing and social distancing rules that is expected to occur on July 19.
Mr Page said the organisation will still be implementing these measure for the safety of clients.
He said that if it were not for volunteers and emergency funding, the charity may not have been able to survive the pandemic.
However, the charity is still “watching every penny” and needs further financial help.
More information on services and volunteering can be found on the Spiral Sussex website and anyone willing to donate can do so here: https://www.givey.com/spiralsussex
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