Margot James supports efforts to maintain service for adults with special needs

8th July 2009

Margot visits Coach House Arts and Crafts Centre.

Margot writes:

At the suggestion of our local vicar at St Mary’s, Oldswinford, Canon Greville Cross, I visited the Coach House Arts and Crafts Centre.

The Coach House was developed in 1990 to provide a wide range of courses for people with special needs. I observed a class facilitated by Barbara Handley and the students, Beth, Anthony and others were very keen to share their work with me.

I met Diana de Souza, recently appointed as Joint Chairman of the centre with Pamela Green, who have together spent many years working with, and caring for, adults with special needs. Diana explained that the courses taught at the centre have, to date, been funded by Worcester College of Technology who are themselves funded by the Learning & Skills Council (LSC).

Regular visitors to my website will know all about the self inflicted problems of the LSC... And of course the LSC cutbacks are having an effect on the wonderful work of the Coach House. Worcester are no longer able to support the courses so alternative arrangements are having to be made so that course can re-start in September.

I am in dialogue with Dudley Council’s Social Care officers and hope very much to find a way of funding this valuable service locally.