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Isle of Wight: Threatened 50 per cent cut in funding for Riverside Centre next year

Riverside cash crisis

By David Newble - Friday, November 21, 2008
SERVICES for elderly and disabled people at the Riverside Centre in Newport could be put at risk by to a threatened 50 per cent cut in funding next year, according to the centre’s directors.
At a special board meeting on Tuesday, members heard that from September the Isle of Wight Council was planning to give vulnerable people their own pot of cash to pay for chosen services.
It is feared this could lead to the centre receiving only half the amount of money it currently gets directly from the authority.
The Isle of Wight Council’s director of community services, Sarah Mitchell, however, told the County Press the 50 per cent figure was just an example and not an indication of what the council would actually do.
A meeting is due to be held on December 6 to discuss the changes. It is hoped senior council officers will attend as well as groups, including charities who use the facility.
Speaking after the meeting, board chairman Shirley Smart said: “The Riverside will need to look at all areas of funding to ensure the services we provide in response to need are maintained and we may no longer provide services that are not needed or not paid for.”

Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk