By John Baron
A group of lifeline organisations offering support to vulnerable older people has warned of the ‘catastrophic effect’ Leeds City Council plans to cut their funding could have on services.
Dawn Newsome, the CEO of Armley Helping Hands, spoke on behalf of 34 neighbourhood networks in Leeds to address all 99 city councillors over a potential 10% cut to their funding this year.
Neighbourhood networks provide social and emotional support for older people and offer lifeline activities, trips, support groups and signposting to other services, such as health and welfare.
Ms Newsome said the neighbourhood networks had already absorbed a 10% reduction in funding two years ago – and that a further 10 over cent reduction this year would have a ‘counterproductive’ impact on service users, many of whom are vulnerable.
Speaking at today’s full council meeting at Leeds Civic Hall, Ms Newsome said: “It is with great anxiety and sadness we find ourselves here today to urge the council to rethink any plans within their forthcoming budget to impose further cuts.”
She said further cuts in the 2025-2026 budget would be ‘disappropriate and counterproductive in terms of our work, and would have a catastrophic effect on the many people we support’.
The council supports a third of neighbourhood networks’ funding, but the deputation argued the funding is the foundation of the neighbourhood networks, helping to secure match funding from other sources.
“We foresee a substantial decline in our income in the years ahead at a time when the demand for our services has never been more needed,” Ms Newsome added, saying that a retraction of services would mean vital support would fall on council and NHS services.
WLD is aware of one neighbourhood network in West Leeds where staff have recently taken a 20% cut to their hours, resulting in fewer trips for older people and fewer activities.
Leeds City Council will issue a formal response to the deputation at a future date.
The local authority is facing an unprecedented strain on its finances. Job losses, service cuts, building closures and a council tax rise of almost five per cent are also being considered by the authority.
Latest figures show the council needs to save £106.4m during 2025/26 to avoid having it declare itself bankrupt.
The council faces rising costs in services including adult social care, while central Government support of local authorities has been insufficient over the past 15 years.
WLD is following ongoing council cuts, closures and building sales in our Cutswatch series of articles.