Tag Archives: carers

Councils face £3.3bn grant cut next year

June 26, 2015   Carers, Featured Article, health, ukcuts

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.

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Disabled volunteers humiliated by council venue blunder

June 25, 2015   Carers, disability, Featured Article, Scotland
 by John Robertson
Sylvia Stonnart was one of a group of five registered-disabled volunteers who were being presented with certificates

Disabled volunteers said they were left “humiliated” when a council event designed to honour their hard work was held in a venue without wheelchair access.

The five women, who work with local support group Moray Duo, were among 80 people invited to the celebration at Elgin Football Club to receive certificates recognising their long-term service.

But the disabled guests could not join in with the main ceremony – because they could not climb the stairs.

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Big firms MUST change the insensitive way they treat bereaved families

June 24, 2015   bereavement, Cancer, Carers, family, Featured Article

 ‘When mum died, Lloyds made the grief even harder to bear

Close-knit: Money Mail writer Victoria Bischoff and her mum Julie, who died in April

  • When Victoria Bischoff’s mother Julie died in April, Lloyds were unhelpful
  • They made her call automated service and sent computer-generated letters
  • An insensitive customer service adviser asked a series of intrusive questions and didn’t know the rules about credit card debts
  • Other organisations such as the local council were much better 

By Victoria Bischoff for the Daily Mail

Published: 01:12, 24 June 2015 | Updated: 07:41, 24 June 2015

Mum had been a customer at Lloyds Bank for around 25 years. The staff in her local branch in Coventry knew her well, so they had recognised me the moment I came through the door.

The woman behind the counter went pale. ‘You’re Julie’s daughter, aren’t you?’ she said. ‘I know what you’re here to say.’

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