Parents and carers to protest about proposed budget cuts to Brighton and Hove community grants

The voluntary sector organisation Community Works is due to hold a protest outside Hove Town Hall this afternoon (Thursday 27 February).

Parents and carers are concerned about proposed cut to grants as Brighton and Hove City Council meets to agree a budget and set the council tax for the coming financial year.

Amaze, which supports the parents of children with special needs and disabilities, and the Parent Carers’ Council (PaCC), in particular, are worried about the impact on the availability of short breaks.

Amaze said: “Amaze and the PaCC have been working hard to influence councillors to overturn proposals to cut budgets to short breaks services and home-school transport.

“There is also a proposal to cut annual and three-year discretionary grants to the voluntary and community sector by 10 per cent – total cut £165,000 – which includes grants to Amaze and Extratime etc.”

The demo is due to take place from 3.15pm to 4.15pm outside the town hall in Norton Road, Hove.

Amaze added: “We understand that amendments to these cuts are being put forward by opposition political parties.

“But there is no guarantee they will be voted through because the process of voting and the politics of the decision-making are so complex.”

One parent who couldn’t make it said that there was a certain irony for her: “I can’t attend the protest due to lack of appropriately qualified respite care for my disabled child.”