Learning difficulties: Bangor 'voice to the vulnerable' service to close

Mandy McCreight said informing her son Ben the Promote service had closed was "the worst thing I ever had to tell him"

Families have expressed utter shock at the closure of a day centre for adults with learning difficulties in north Down.

Promote Day Opportunities Service helps more than 50 people in Bangor but is set to close at the end of March due to a lack of funding.

One parent said the service is her son's "entire life".

It is ran by the charity Action Mental Health (AMH) on behalf of the South Eastern Health Trust.

The charity and the trust, in a joint statement, said they "regrettably" can no longer provide the service due to rising costs and budget pressures.

Mandy McCreight, whose son Ben attends Promote five days a week, said the move was "utterly devastating".

Families were told in a letter that the service will close on 31 March and are due to meet representatives from Action Mental Health on Monday to discuss what alternatives are available.

Day services typically give people with learning difficulties the chance to develop new skills, take part in activities and meet new people, while also providing respite to families and carers.

The Action Mental Health website describes the Promote service as offering "opportunities for adults with a learning disability to be socially active and develop new skills in a supportive and engaging environment".

'This is not fair'

Mrs McCreight said the Promote service "is Ben's life, his entire life".

"All his friends are there, it's everything for him.

"It took us a long time to get the right services but Promote answered all our prayers.

"We didn't think we would ever have to worry again."

Mrs McCreight says the closure of the centre is not fair

She added: "We will not be able to do what Promote has done, nowhere near.

"Telling Ben about this was the worst thing I've ever had to tell him.

"We will fight for them, my son and all others deserve as good a quality of life as anyone without learning disabilities. This is not fair."

The Promote service offers clients opportunities like going on day trips and building social skills

Marty Bradley, whose son Joshua attends Promote two days a week, said the service offers more than just care.

"The clients are living an independent life, the service gives them a voice.

"Some of these kids have such complex needs and Promote have been brilliant. It is just shocking, some people only have Promote."

'It's sickening'

Mr Bradley said the loss of the service will have a lot of ramifications.

"For parents and families this is the only opportunity for them to get out, do the shopping, chores and everything else - this has a lot of knock-on effects.

"Joshua, he's gutted, he has his friends there, they talk about hobbies, life skills, WWE and just having those social interactions - there's nothing like it, any parent can tell you that."

Joshua attends Promote twice a week and his father said the service is a life line

Mr Bradley added that families should have been told sooner.

"Why has this happened? There was no opportunity given to us to even fundraise to save the service, it's sickening."

In its statement, Action Mental Health and the South Eastern Trust said it could no longer "provide this service within the resources that are available, due to rising costs and the increasing budgetary pressures being felt across the sector".

The statement added: "The South Eastern Trust is working closely with AMH to ensure the least disruption to service users and their families during this difficult period.

"The trust understands the impact this decision may have on them and keyworkers will be there to support them as they move to an appropriate alternative service."