A senior councillor says he is looking to meet families concerned over potential loss of transport for young carers to get to and from activity sessions.
Late last week a message emerged from Calderdale Young Carers saying increasing demand and staffing pressures mean changes need to be made to transport arrangements.
The Calderdale Council service supports children and young people aged between eight and 18 who live with, and help to care for, someone who has physical or mental health problems, learning difficulties, or drug or alcohol problems.
The message said that due to increasing demand for the service, particularly for statutory young carers assessments, and ongoing staffing pressures changes were needed as to how young carers travel to and from the service’s activity sessions.
“From October 1, parents/carers will be responsible for transporting their child to and from Young Carers sessions,” said the message, which has resulted in concern voiced, including on social media, by people potentially affected, and local political fall out.
Now Cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services, Coun Tim Holden (Reform UK, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe), is keen to provide an opportunity to meet with families who receive this service, along with Director of Children and Young People’s Services, Martyn Stenton, to listen to concerns directly from them, said the council.
Today (September 28) they be writing to families affected to ensure there is an opportunity to hear their concerns and assure that transport will still be provided where needed for young people to attend activities, said the authority.
“Calderdale Council, along with local partners and schools, is committed to providing the best support it can to our young carers within the resources available, and will ensure we consult, engage and listen to the experience of those who use our services,” said the authority in a statement.
Calderdale Labour said: “These are children and young people who are already taking on extremely difficult caring responsibilities for family members.”
Coun Katie Kimber (Lab, Luddenden Foot) had questioned the council’s Reform UK Cabinet members about the issue at full council last Wednesday but received no explanation, they said.
Reform members that evening had backed a motion recognising the vital role unpaid carers took and the pressures they faced, said Labour, but days later in emerged this service was being cut.
Labour group Leader Coun Adam Wilkinson (Sowerby Bridge) said on the social media post: “Young carers don’t need warm words in the council chamber. They need practical support.
“Reform needs to explain why it is cutting this support, take responsibility for the decision and be honest with residents about what other services for vulnerable people may be at risk.”
Calderdale Greens have also accused Reform of leaving young carers “in the lurch.”
Green group Leader Coun Martin Hey (Northowram and Shelf) said the decision was “heartless” and claimed the decision had not been properly democratically scrutinised.
“Green councillors are calling on the administration to reverse this decision, ensure that no young carer is prevented from attending activities because of transport barriers, and allow full scrutiny of the changes,” the party said in a statement.
Reform UK have hit back and accused opposition parties of “misinformation” and said the decision had been made by council officers.
In a statement on the party’s Reform UK Calderdale page, they said: “We understand why young carers and their families may be worried by what they have read.
“They deserve a clear explanation. So let’s set the record straight.
“Calderdale Young Carers Service is continuing.
“The change concerns transport arrangements for activities, where those who are able to make their own way are encouraged to do so and the council will only provide transport to those who can’t.
“This was a decision by council officers and not by us as political leads but it appears an entirely reasonable one in the context of rising demand and the need to get the budget under control.
“We will be meeting with those affected to hear directly from them, their views on the change,” said Reform UK Calderdale.
They accused the other parties of “using children’s services as a political football” and accused Labour of “hypocrisy” following withdrawal of funding from Gateway Youth Club, which supported children and young people with special needs and disabilities (SEND) under its administration earlier in the year.
That debate referring to “targeted” services rather than a “universal” service, said Reform UK Calderdale.