Rochdale and District Play Action Council could face closure

Rochdale and District Play Action Council

Rochdale and District Play Action Council (RADPAC) could face closure due to potential funding cuts for the charity by Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council.

RADPAC is a voluntary organisation which helps develop, support and fund voluntary groups who wish to run holiday play schemes for children ages three to 12 years throughout the Rochdale borough.

The proposal, projected to save £40,000 pounds, suggests ceasing grant funding from the Council for holiday play schemes in the borough for children aged between four and 14 years of age. It notes that there ‘could be a reduction of play opportunities for children in the borough after school in term time and during school holidays’ and points out ‘the current grant recipient, as an independent organisation, does have the ability to apply for other sources of grant funding.’

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/105037/proposals-for-cuts-to-council-services

In response to these proposals, RADPAC have released an official statement:

“RADPAC is a charitable organisation that has helped provide play opportunities for the borough’s children for over 30 years. We have done this by developing, supporting and funding voluntary groups to run play schemes. We have also provided low cost and not for profit, full day holiday provision for working parents. We have an excellent reputation in the borough and many families have relied upon the services we directly provided as well as benefitted from the work we have done with voluntary groups. This proposal will see the closure of RADPAC.

“Firstly, we fully understand the Council has to make difficult decisions over the coming months. The amount of cuts it is being forced to make is unprecedented. In our opinion the way the government is squeezing Council finances is wrong. Many important services that make a real difference to people’s lives will cease or be drastically reduced. We are saddened Councils have to make these difficult decisions.

“However, we strongly oppose this cut £40,000 per year is a relatively small sum in the grander scheme of things especially for the amount of benefit it provides for the people of this borough including over 1200 children.”

It continues: “Children’s access to play activities is classified as a fundamental human right by the United Nations. Research shows that play has many benefits for children, families and the wider community, as well as improving health and quality of life. Play is not trivial. It is a vital activity for society.

“This proposal, along with the others, will mean children’s access to play will be severely limited especially in the borough’s most deprived areas.

“RADPAC has played a key role in providing children’s access to play. As our annual reports shows, our outcomes are very good and we have contributed to all of the Council’s strategic priorities: Prosperity, People and Place.

“We have always felt valued by the Council and we feel we have always been treated as partners and a positive for the area rather than just a company that provides services.”

It goes on to describe what effects the cuts could have to the voluntary organisation: “The knock on effects to RADPAC if this proposal goes ahead is that we will be unable to provide the DBS service (disclosure and Barring checks) to voluntary and community groups, small businesses and also to departments within Rochdale Borough Council. Also our holiday club would close which would see parents that work struggle to find an alternative low cost inclusive holiday club that received Good with outstanding elements at the last OFSTED inspection.

“Unfortunately, we feel that once again the Council is providing misleading information to the public about the proposals and the impact it will have. This is especially unfortunate for two reasons. 1) Councillors will be making decisions on a cut which will effectively close RADPAC on the basis of a faulty consultation and 2) This is the second time officers have put out proposals which affects our organisation for public comment based on misleading information.

“We understand the difficulties both officers and councillors face in wrestling with balancing the budget but the information provided to people should at least be accurate and consistent.

“We believe the information is misleading for the following reasons. The savings, as presented in 3.1 of the proposal, are inconsistent with what is stated above in table one and also to what officers initially told us. It appears the funding will be slowly phased out given RADPAC some breathing space but officers confirmed to us as soon as councillors agree the measures in financial council, the full cut of £40,000 will be implemented.

“The voluntary sector impact states RADPAC as an independent organisation can apply for other sources of funding. In a basic sense, this is true but RADPAC’s primary role is to support and fund voluntary play schemes across the borough. It provides training and grants. Funding for training has ceased and no known external funders will offer grants to another grant giving organisation. The play schemes supported by RADPAC are unlikely to be able to apply for grants themselves.

“Personnel implications are incorrect. It states no employee will be affected. This may be true for Rochdale Council but RADPAC’s staff will be facing redundancy should this cut be approved.

“We hope the Council takes these concerns and objections seriously and also recognise that while play provision is not statutory, its importance in building a strong society is something that should be cherished and preserved.

“In terms of alternative savings proposals: we do not have enough information on the Council’s other spend to comment on this, but £40,000 per year is a small investment to make in something which has proven benefits for the children and families of the borough.”