Closure threatened day centre is 'our lifeline'

“All I have is Harborne Day Centre," said Jean Cross, whose brother Robert has attended the centre for 43 years

Families of adults with learning difficulties and disabilities have described the day centres they attend as "our lifeline".

Beeches GOLDD, Harborne, Fairway and Heartlands in Birmingham were four centres recommended for closure at a recent council meeting.

Jean Cross said her severely disabled brother Robert, 62, had been going to Harborne Day Centre since he was 19 as "it gets him out the house."

Birmingham City Council said attendance at the centres had "reduced significantly" since 2019, and support would be provided at the five remaining day centres in the city.

A protest was held outside the council's headquarters following the public meeting, with the plans out for consultation until December.

Ms Cross, from Edgbaston, told the BBC staff at the Harborne Day Centre on West Boulevard knew "all the service users inside out."

“My brother has been going there for 43 years, you think you can just pick him up and move him to another day centre?”

Harborne Day Centre was recommended for closure at a recent cabinet meeting

Robert, who requires 24-hour care, had an infection as a child that had left him completely paralysed on one side.

“Robert has to have everything done for him, all his friends are there,” Ms Cross explained, adding she didn't have any carers.

“All I have is Harborne Day Centre, it’s our lifeline," she said.

In February, the council agreed to save £1.95m for 2024-25 and £3.35m in 2025-26 against the nine day centres in the city.

The move follows the local authority's consultation on the future of the council-run centres and an independent review which was approved in April 2023.

Maureen Winkles' daughter Lisa has been going to Harborne Day Centre for 32 years

Maureen Winkles, 86, from Quinton, is a carer for her daughter Lisa, 53, who has epilepsy and water on the brain.

She said her daughter has received respite care at Harborne Day Centre for 32 years and it had not only provided a routine, but had given her a "purpose to get up in the morning."

"It gives me a little bit of a life of my own. It gives you a chance to do something that you want to do."

She said: “60 service users go to her day centre, the others don’t have that many."

Ms Winkles said was concerned that her daughter, who had learning difficulties and was unable to live unaided, may have to go into a home if the centre closes.

“I’m 86 and I can still look after Lisa and carry on,” she explained. “If they shut it, she won’t go to one of the others. I don’t know how long I can last.”

“All her friends are there, she loves to go.”