Day centres for elderly people provide a vital service, but seven Age UK run centres face an uncertain future.
More than 300 elderly people use the centres across Northamptonshire, but funding is set to be scrapped.
That’s because a three year social wellbeing contract, due to end next March, won’t be renewed by the county council.
As well as Age UK, the funding gap will affect a range of organisations dealing with issues as widespread as caring for the elderly and homelessness, including The Autumn Centre, Glamis Hall, Midland Heart and Naash.
I went to Age UK’s Venton Centre in Northampton…
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This is the county council's response to the news...
“Commsortia was awarded a three-year contract in 2017 to manage and improve social wellbeing services in Northamptonshire. This contract comes to an end, as planned, at the end of March 2020.
“Public health has been working with Commsortia, adult social care and housing partners to ensure that, as elements of this contract cease, appropriate alternative support is provided to those service users with on-going social care and housing needs. This will be supported by public health through a short bridging arrangement, subject to agreement by Commsortia.
“At the same time, public health has also been working with wider partners and stakeholders, and will be consulting service users, to better understand the public health needs of wider vulnerable groups in Northamptonshire, with a view to developing a broader preventative offer for those most at risk of inequalities. We are working hard with all our partners to find shared solutions.
“It’s important that public health funding is prioritised against the areas of greatest need locally, addressing health inequalities and demonstrating value for money, as well as being fully compliant with public health grant requirements. The development of a new inequalities contract is part of an on-going improvement programme for public health.”
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