Campaigners say a Peterborough hub for adults with learning disabilities has been 'life changing'
It's as they fight against the hubs closure
Campaigners trying to save a hub in Peterborough for adults with learning disabilities say closure will have a detrimental impact on people's mental health.
The campaign group, Save our Industrial Hub, are protesting today outside the town hall.
It's after it was announced that the industrial hub is to close in June due to changes in funding.
The hub changed his life
Hayley Janceski's brother Richard has been going to the hub for the past seven years.
Hayley said her brother was devastated by the news.
The hub gave him a purpose. He could do something with pride."
"He could go everyday and see his friends and it changed his life."
"We still don't know what my brothers provision will be."
"That is causing mountains of stress."
"When your loved ones aren't given fulfilling provision, the impact on mental health can be huge."
"These are people that really function on routine, so to take away that routine and familiarity and not replace it with something they can imagine and understand is really challenging."
"What we're asking the council to do is keep the hub open for the remainder of the lease, and that will give the college enough time to put sustainable action plans in place."
A petition created to preserve the hub has over 1500 signatures.
The impact on mental health can be huge
Stephen Taylor, executive director for adults services at Peterborough City Council, said:
'City College Peterborough (CCP) and Peterborough City Council (PCC) remain committed to providing good quality Day Opportunities for adults with learning difficulties, complex needs and autism across Peterborough.'
'A review with CCP’s dedicated and highly skilled staff is now taking place to look at the Day Opportunities - to see if it still meets the needs of users and if a different, more cost-effective model could be used that better reflects the modern world and our changing city. This review does not mean that Day Opportunities will cease, or that users will receive a lesser service.'
'Once decisions have been made, we will work closely with families, carers, and community partners and professionals to navigate these changes and achieve the best possible outcomes for the people who rely on this provision. Any person who is affected by the changes to services will be supported to source alternative opportunities should they need to.'
'We remain fully committed to working together to protect and strengthen these essential services in the face of financial pressures and our priority remains working collaboratively to find solutions that put the needs of those we support at the forefront.'
Tasha Dalton, Principal at City College Peterborough, said:
"Due to changes in funding, City College Peterborough need to streamline its services, which unfortunately means that operations at the Industrial Hub will be winding down over the next three months. This will have an impact on staff, who entered a consultation process on Monday 17 March.
"City College Peterborough will be looking at ways to incorporate the fantastic work achieved at the Hub into other areas. However, the Hub itself will no longer operate from Hampton.
"City College Peterborough are working closely with PCC to ensure that those who access our services have clear options moving forward, and people who use their services that will be affected by these changes have been communicated with."