Demonstration Planned to Stop Funding Cuts for Coventry Charity Outside Council House

Coventry: Today, there’s a demonstration happening outside the council house. People are rallying against proposed cuts to services for those with learning difficulties. The Grapevine charity, which helps young folks with disabilities, is facing some serious funding cuts.

The protest is scheduled from 5:30 PM to 7 PM, right when the council is holding its final consultation meeting. They’re discussing ways to save money before the February budget, and one of the ideas is to cut funding for people who don’t qualify for council support.

If these cuts go through, it could mean a 42% reduction in funding. That’s a huge hit! It would affect programs like Grapevine’s Help and Connect, which supports around 80 people each year in finding jobs and staying healthy.

According to Mencap, there are over 7,000 people with learning disabilities in Coventry alone. This number doesn’t even include kids who will grow up to need support or newcomers to the city.

Grapevine’s leaders say many people come to Coventry when they’re struggling with mental health issues or financial problems. They often don’t qualify for council help, leaving them to fend for themselves.

One person who benefits from Grapevine shared how tough it can be to manage daily life. He had a close call with traffic but has since learned to communicate better and connect with others, thanks to the charity.

Claire Wightman, the CEO of Grapevine, will be at the demonstration. She believes the cuts are misguided and could lead to more expenses down the line when people end up in crisis.

The consultation on these cuts wraps up on January 28, and there’s a petition against them that people can check out.