Page 10 - link magazine

10 swindonlink.com • December 2010
Single mums with disabled children face debilitating cuts

The Government’s austerity measures are predicted to leave some of the most vulnerable members of society exposed to greater diffi culties
and poorer quality of life, and North Swindon single mother Yvonne Tyrell has already discovered the harsh realities of policy changes when
faced with the threat of her Direct Payment for respite care being withdrawn.
Yvonne has three primary school- don Social Services that her funding “This slash and watch families them they’d be out of a job too. The
age children, including Elise who was going to be cut but she success- burn policy is completely unaccept- government needs to think about all
is severely disabled and needs fully fought her corner, although able and there must be a better way the knock-on effects.
24 hour care. She said, “six years doing so took its toll. “Happily of making savings. At the end of “And my advice to any mums in
ago I was among the fi rst people on this occasion my funding has the day the carers I employ to give a similar situation is, don’t accept
in Swindon to be granted direct not been withdrawn, but I worry me help are like gold, and without the decision to cut support without
funding to enable me to employ this is simply because I jumped up the work I and other families offer a challenge.”
someone to come in and help me and down and refused to accept The lantern parade on 27 October attracted families from across the area who were
look after my children for three the results of my daughter’s latest led by the Mayor and Mayoress from the North Swindon Centre to Isambard School.
hours a week. This means we can go assessment. Left, Yvonne Tylee with her family and respite care worker at the parade
on family outings and I can spend “I was told by Social Services that
time with my able-bodied children I already had enough respite care
whilst having assistance with my because my children went to my
daughter’s wheelchair. Without this my ex-partner each week. But this
help our quality of life as a family is completely missing the point. I
would be severely affected.” need assistance to be able to spend
In October she was told by Swin- time with my other children.”
The stress of Yvonne’s
fi ght for funding led to
her being rushed to
hospital with reduced
mobility in her arms
and legs. On release
she refl ected, “it infuri-
ates me that individual
cases are not being
looked at properly. Plan for Abbey Stadium and
We’re talking about the
lives of children and St Andrew’s Ridge homes revived
their families, which
can’t be dealt with by Swindon Council’s planning committee has renewed for another fi ve
pulling names out of years Gaming International’s application to redevelop the stadium and
a hat. the adjacent unused site next to existing homes on St Andrew’s Ridge.

NOW
OPEN!

Swindon Tented Market
All year round undercover trading right in the town centre

Come and visit your local traders o
ering a great variety and good value:
• Hair S
• Home Furniture • Hair Salon • Nail Salonalon • Nail Salon
• Money Transfer Services 10% • British Caféritish Café
• B
• Cash for Goldash for Gold
• Herbal & Tobacco Products • C
• O
ce Furniture
• Memory Foam Mattresses DISCOUNT • O
ce Furniture
• Ladies & Gents Wear
• Heavy Metal Clothing with this • Ladies & Gents Wear Abbey Stadium and the adjacent site with St Andrew’s Ridge and Abbey Meads
• DVDs & Music CDs
• Mobile Phones & Accessories advert! • DVDs & Music CDs in the background, in 2007 when Blunsdon by-pass was being built
• Mobile Phones & Accessories
• Hair Braiding & Hair Products • Tailoring Services
• Hair Braiding & Hair Products
• Tailoring Services
The scheme is much the same as right angles to the current 60 year
• Egg, Poultry, Fish & Lamb Dish Café
• Egg, Poultry, Fish & Lamb Dish Café • Art & Craft Materials the last successful application in old facility and opened before the
• Art & Craft Materials
• Body Jewellery, Street Art & Glow Sticks • Urban Style Fashion 2008 which did not proceed because old site is demolished.
• Fancy Dress Costumes & Costume Jewellery • Photographic Studio of the recession. This will include Abbey Meads councillor Vera
Farmers Market every Monday offi ce space and a youth training Tomlinson, vice chair of the plan-
facility, provision for the existing ning committee, welcomed Gaming
Do you have a business idea? covered market, 450 new houses International’s renewed interest in
and a new care home.
pursuing the project. “There was
Stalls to let available from £45 per wk + VAT However overfl ow car parking unanimous support from the com-
FIRST MONTH RENT FREE! on event days will no longer be mittee who want to see a high qual-
Please call Nik on 01793 430233 available at the Groundwell Park ity stadium built. We look forward
and Ride site which is currently to seeing the detailed plans for the
or Keningtons on 01793 423351 closed. Gaming International has housing and care home.”
www.swindonmarket.co.uk agreed a fi ve year lease of an unused See pictures and the site layout
fi eld next to the Motorola building. from 2007 at www.swindonlink.
The new stadium will be built at com (search for stadium)
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