Borough disability group fears for funding in Dudley Council cuts (From Stourbridge News)

Borough disability group fears for funding in Dudley Council cuts

5:00pm Sunday 27th January 2013 in News

A DISABILITY group which works for better access across Dudley is appealing for help in its search for funds as council spending is slashed.

Access in Dudley expects to fall victim to local authority budget cuts, fearing it will lose its annual £1,000 grant that pays its insurance cover.

Group organiser Tina Boothroyd said: “We have to have indemnity and liability insurance, so we need £1,000 a year minimum just to keep going.”

The group also wants to expand and run more services and is looking for a “funding seeker” to find income opportunities from trusts, grant giving bodies and private companies They would be expected to work a couple of hours a week and attend the group’s twice monthly meetings, although Mrs Boothroyd said it was hoped to increase those to monthly in the future.

Grants to cover running costs are hard to come by and Access in Dudley is grateful for support received from companies and stores, including Tesco and big-hearted Amblecote businessman Geoff Hill. It is currently one of Asda’s three good causes.

“We want to expand to do other things like setting up a register of adapted housing suitable for people with disabilities available to rent from housing associations, the council and the private sector, because nothing like that exists in Dudley,” said Mrs Boothroyd.

The group’s website - accessindudley.org.uk - has an easy read version for people with learning difficulties and for whom English is a second language, but would like to be able to afford to make it talk to visually impaired people.

“We have 12 volunteers at the moment but would like more to help with our services as well as someone to search the net to find funding sources for the group and they can be disabled or able bodied,” said Mrs Boothroyd, who has suffered two strokes and is visually impaired.

Access in Dudley was formed in 2004 and Mrs Boothroyd runs it with Anne Nicholls and Simon Wills. It consults with the council and Government on disability access, advises companies and organisations and gives advice to disabled people.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Mrs Boothroyd on 01384 569505 or email info@accessindudley.org.uk