Volunteers walk out over Riverside row

By Ross Findon

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

ANGRY volunteers have walked out on a support service for the disabled in a row with the council over funding.

The group of five volunteers from the Riverside Centre’s Quay advocacy team announced they were quitting last week, after the Isle of Wight Council failed to respond to written concerns about the service’s future.

Their concerns followed the publication of an Isle of Wight Council cabinet report issued in February which claimed the authority was paying £135.64 per hour for the service, while the Riverside calculated the amount was £7.70.

Riverside Centre chairman Shirley Smart said: "The statement made by the council has had serious implications for the reputation of the Riverside Centre, the integrity of our officers and has caused volunteers to leave — volunteers who have given years of dedicated service to vulnerable people."

• For more on this story see the Friday, March 12, County Press.

Reporter: ross.findon@iwcp.co.uk