Public interest news: Greenwich diverted £21m funds away from social care before charges hike

THANK YOU 853 London news for breaking this story. This shows that Greenwich had previously diverted £21m of the government Better Care Fund away from social care, then increased charges from our disability benefits to squeeze another £1.6m from disabled residents. (The Better Care Funds from government are meant for support in the community so … Read more

Fantastic panel for Wed 21 April – all welcome

Be at our next workshop on Zoom: Wednesday 21 April, 1.30pm-3.30pm Campaigning together for independent living, respectful & caring relationships, and to restore the rights the Coronavirus Act suspended Register free on Eventbrite here.  Email us if support needed: win@winvisible.org Hammersmith & Fulham: working together – the only borough in England to have free social care … Read more

Council faces anger over ‘inexcusable’ increase in care charges in middle of pandemic

A mixed picket of disabled women and men. Some of the women are holding WinVisible's banner. A placard says: Scrap Social Care charges -- a tax on disability.

Report shared from Disability News Service: By John Pring on 24th September 2020 Campaigners have asked a local authority why it has taken the “inexcusable” step of increasing care charges for disabled people in the middle of a pandemic. Greenwich council was warned last year that planned increases to the contributions disabled service-users have to make towards council-funded care would … Read more

Scrap care charges — no to Dilnot revisited

We’re alarmed as today on the news it was reported that before Coronavirus, the government was in discussions to revive the Dilnot Commission “lifetime cap on charges” for social care.  Which is accompanied by higher taxation of people individually to fund social care.   This is not the answer to the social care crisis. WinVisible and … Read more

Greenwich hid £8m cuts from disabled people

We’ve been protesting against Greenwich Council’s plan to increase care charges and squeeze another £1.6 million from disabled people’s benefits, since July 2019 when we sent an Open Letter to councillors and for the consultation. But that consultation about charges never mentioned also cutting £8 million from adult health and social care.  This includes “reablement”, … Read more

Councillors labelled ‘murderers’ as Greenwich votes to increase adult social care charges

On 29 January, Greenwich Council cabinet decided to charge people £1.6 million more for social care, and make £8m cuts to the free rehabilitation which people coming out of hospital are entitled to get, and other support. Here is the South London Press report by James Twomey.  Plus below, our Kate Brown‘s speech to the Scrutiny Committee … Read more

Greenwich care charges — fight goes on

Reposted from News Shopper: “Our lives are being put at risk”: Disability advocate hits out at new proposed care costs By Lachlan Leeming  @LeemingLachie Local Democracy Reporter – Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich Greenwich’s scrutiny committee on Thursday and (inset) community opposition gathered at Wednesday’s meeting.   An activist awarded an MBE for her work fighting for the disabled … Read more

Emergency Workshop Rally for Greenwich people, Fri 3 Jan 2020

GREENWICH  DISABLED PEOPLE — EMERGENCY WORKSHOP RALLY  to Maintain Our Adult Social Care Services  Friday 3 Jan 2020 — 3.30pm to 6pm. Change of venue, now at The Great Harry pub, 7-9 Wellington St, Woolwich, London SE18 6PQ (near Woolwich Arsenal overground station.  From the station, same direction as if you are going towards the … Read more

No to care charges hike — Greenwich open letter

No to care charges increases – WinVisible letter and submission Royal Borough of Greenwich     Adult social care consultation 2019 Open letter to Cllr Averil Lekau, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health averil.lekau@royalgreenwich.gov.uk And submission to carecharges@royalgreenwich.gov.uk Dear Cllr Lekau and Naomi Alexander, RBG Adult social care consultation 2019 We write to strongly oppose … Read more