Father concerned loss of Barnardo's support service will have an affect on daughter
THIS family is concerned about the impact the closure of a support service will have on their disabled daughter.
Dad Carl Robertson, 29, of Wintringham Road, Grimsby, said the key worker service which is provided by Barnardo's had been a safety net for his family when he needed it most.
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Concern: Hayley Lancaster and her partner Carl Robertson, of Grimsby, with their daughter Amelia Robertson. Picture: Rick Byrne
But the vital support for him and his daughter Amelia, who suffers from Global Development Delay is due to cease at the end of the month following cutbacks by North East Lincolnshire Council.
The authority is having to make savings of £58-million due to a reduction in Government support, as reported.
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Little Amelia is four, but has the mental age of an infant and cannot talk.
She also suffers from hypermobile joints which means her limbs can be twisted around her body and cannot walk as well as a healthy child of her age.
Barnardo's key workers have helped the family, providing lifts to and from school, hospital and GP appointments.
The popular Humberston Park Special School pupil has struck a bond with her carers over the past two years, which meant that when Carl struggled due to a health problem, and meant all his teeth had to be extracted, Amelia was able to carry on her life as normal.
Carl said: "It has been a big help. I have had problems with my health physically and mentally and Barnardo's were able to help us get around.
"They took us themselves. It is that practical help that makes all the difference. You build up a trust that you need in a working relationship. But at the end of the month it is all gone and no one knows what will come after that. We have been promised a service, but no one knows where the money is coming from the pay for it.
"Our concern is that there will be no support service."
He said that would create strains on his family because he needs to get his daughter to her GP at Freshney Green, which can take an hour by bus.
He said: "That will have a financial impact on us."
The dad said he will be meeting Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell to find out what will be happening from April 1.
There are 70 families in North East Lincolnshire benefiting from the care given by Barnardo's.
Amelia's mother, Hayley Lancaster, 25 said : "Barnardo's staff will be losing their jobs. We know of at least four who will be going. It is going to have a big impact because she is used to someone coming round once a week to make sure she is healthy."
7 Comments
by fruitus
Sunday, March 24 2013, 4:20PM
“Maybe Barnado's or your good selves should apply for some funding from the George Hardwick Carers Forum.
http://tinyurl.com/bsruw8f
See item 6, they are asking for ideas from carers on how to spend £30,000. Also £7,500 to CAB. Your cause seems worthier than booklets and events to me.”
by fruitus
Sunday, March 24 2013, 4:15PM
“Maybe Barnado's or your good selves should apply for some funding from the George Hardwick Carers Forum.
http://tinyurl.com/bsruw8f
See item 6, they are asking for ideas from carers on how to spend £30,000. Also £7,500 to CAB. Your cause seems worthier than booklets and events to me.”
by fruitus
Sunday, March 24 2013, 4:13PM
“Maybe Barnado's or your good selves should apply for some funding from the George Hardwick Carers Forum.
http://tinyurl.com/bsruw8f
See item 6, they are asking for ideas from carers on how to spend £30,000. Also £7,500 to CAB. Your cause seems worthier than booklets and events to me.”
by CarlRobertson
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 11:37PM
“RieRie Firstly Have you seen the prices of taxis nowadays they are high enough and why pay for a taxi to be honest when I have to travel from Humberston at times to the GPs or to the Hospital A & E in just one day we paid out over £60 for taxis to and from Hospital & Gps.
Again GT Have messed up we DONT need anyone to come and make sure our daughter is Healthy as parents we ALWAYS ensure that our Daughter is healthy and if there is any signs of illness off to the gp or A & E she goes if necessary.
Barnardos is a lifeline when needed yes you read that right when they are needed it is not always possible for us as parents of a disbaled child to be able to deal with all the emotions that come from being a parent and carer especially with the Hospital Drs which my daughter has to see on a regular basis constantly talking in what seems like foreign language (I mean Medical terms here nothing racial) we often need support to be able to get to appointments within such a short space of time to ensure our Daughter does not miss out on any education where possible (i.e finish school at 3pm having to be at an appoinment either at gps or hospital by 3:30pm which happens a lot) if you have ever travelled from Humberston Park School to Yarborough Road (2 buses) or the hospital you will know exactly how long it takes.
On the other hand we both have some special needs ourself and appreciate the support we receive from the key worker service, We dont ask for much but why should we along with other parents in similar situation have to struggle through life just to save the money of the Council and their high heads just so the government can pay for lazy people and single parents to have an income why not make them go and get a job as I did.
Regardless of what we get, Carers allowance is just that for the carer(s) to live off when unable to work due to being a full time carer for a disabled person and this is my partner who is the main carer for our daughter. DLA Mobility would soon be used up if we had to get taxis to/from hospitals and gps every time we have to take our daughter to an appointment due to the taxi fares which are quite high and mount up when sat in traffic.
I am guessing you have never had a Disabled Child and have never used the service thats provided by barnardos so will never understand how much of a lifeline it is to many Families that do need to use the service and you have missed the main point they help with arranging appointments and help us to access other support services that we need either as carers or for our daughter.
Until you know the ins and outs of caring for a disabled child and how hard it actually is for over 3 n half years then dont start out with keyboard warrior behaviour !!!”
by RieRee
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 8:36AM
“Do they not get mobility/disability/carers allowance that woud pay for a taxi to the doctors? They need someone to come round once a week to make sure their daughter is healthy? As a parent I made sure my children were healthy all by myself!”
by whatajoke112
Monday, March 04 2013, 10:24AM
“Just another example of the councils ''pledge'' to protect the most vulnerable!! I've said it before, but so long as its protecting the ''likely to vote for us vulunerable'', then thats all Humpty-Numpty Shaw and his cronies care about.”
by CarlRobertson
Monday, March 04 2013, 9:29AM
“Shame on GT to interpret that my daughters limbs can be twist round her body when the truth is that she can get her arms and legs up her back rather than round her body !!! come on GT if your going to do a story at least write what we tell you.”