Monthly Archives: June 2015

Fears of postcode lottery as ILF closes today

Transfer of monies to local authorities puts spotlight on how the most disabled people should be supported

Photo: Mark Hunter/Rex

It has been planned since 2012 but today’s closure of the Independent Living Fund (ILF), which helped severely disabled people top-up their social care support, is still a source of ongoing uncertainty for both disabled people and local authorities.

The fund, which was administered from central government, is being transferred to local authority budgets in England based on what recipients in their area were allocated, minus a 5% “top slice”.

How does your garden grow?

John Jeffry, the Carers Garden, Brighton

‘I go out in the country sometimes and take cuttings, put them in rooting compound, then stick them in the ground. Sloes and things like that’

John Jeffry: ‘Coming here was a break. It gave me a bit of focus. I like the company.’ Photograph: Sophia Evans for the Guardian

You feel on top of the world up here – it makes everything else seem so small. The Carers Centre set up this allotment to give people a few hours break from caring each week. When I heard about it I really wanted to come but couldn’t because my wife Ellen had Alzheimer’s. When she went into a nursing home, it was hard, but coming here was a break. It gave me a bit of focus. I like the company.

Councils face £3.3bn grant cut next year

David Sparks warned that councils face big cuts in funding

First published 00:16 Friday 26 June 2015 in National News © by Press Association 2014

Councils in England face cuts of £3.3 billion in central government funding next year, a new study has found.

The Local Government Association warned that councils will have to make “significant” savings on top of previous spending cuts.

Funding will continue to be reduced – by 11% in 2017/18 and 4% in 2018/19 before increasing by 7% in 2019/20, said the LGA.