Protect Mental Health Services in Northern Devon

by James Craigie

Protect Mental Health Services in Northern Devon

by James Craigie
James Craigie
Case Owner
I am a local Councillor, Adult Link Centre Users have asked me to assist them with their campaign to keep the services. I am a strong champion for the rights of people with mental health problems.
2
days to go
£1,825
pledged of £5,000 stretch target from 27 pledges
Pledge now
James Craigie
Case Owner
I am a local Councillor, Adult Link Centre Users have asked me to assist them with their campaign to keep the services. I am a strong champion for the rights of people with mental health problems.
Pledge now

This case is raising funds for its stretch target. Your pledge will be collected within the next 24-48 hours (and it only takes two minutes to pledge!)

Latest: June 12, 2023

Reaching the halfway mark a thank you!

A huge effort by North Devon Link Centre users to highlight their plight and raise funds in the real world as online has seen us almost reach the half way mark of the first target in under 10 days. &…

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Devon County Council(DCC) is consulting over the closure of the North Devon Link Centres in Bideford, Barnstaple and Ilfracombe. The link centres are vital adult mental health services that provide all sorts of care including preventive care. There is a dedicated team of staff who have many years experience, these staff will lose their jobs. The Centres are currently paid for by Devon County Council's adult social care budget and DCC is restricting access removing social care from those suffering mental health problems.  The decision to close the centres would go against the new Mental Health Framework that NHS England is rolling out across the country, as integrating health and social care to better support the patient was what the Link Centres have always been about..

We are mounting a challenge to the lawfulness of the consultation itself, and to the proposed closure of these vital centres for those with mental health problems.  As a remote, rural and isolated area Northern Devon does not have access to many of the third sector organisation and large charities that help support and advocate for people in other parts of Britain.  We have therefore had to rely on our own endeavours to fight for a service that has been going since 1991, with over 100 people attending each week.

The only reason given in the consultation is the severe challenges faced by Devon County Council in balancing their budget, due to insufficient support from central government.  However, the removing of a service that has been a beacon of best practise and showed the way to integrate social care with medical support, before it was happening across the country. is not a solution to the County's financial difficulties.  It would become immediately apparent that further pressure will be heaped on emergency services when they have to deal with the worsening mental health in the Northern Devon area.

A consultation in 2021 found the service was so effective that it should be immediately reinstated to its pre-covid provision, as soon as practically possible as covid restrictions eased.  This has in fact never happened, and the County Council in a panic to find savings is picking on a service that they believe is unable to defend itself, rather than something that truly offers poor value for money.  The political expediency of removing services from people eligible for social care under the Care Act 2014, is not good decision making and it is not effective government and represents a gross procedural unfairness to people needing support.

Update 1

James Craigie

June 12, 2023

Reaching the halfway mark a thank you!

A huge effort by North Devon Link Centre users to highlight their plight and raise funds in the real world as online has seen us almost reach the half way mark of the first target in under 10 days.  We now have 20 days to raise the rest and so we need everyone to do what they can to share the crowdjustice fundraiser and talk to as many friends, family and relations about the fight to secure justice for those with mental health challenges.  The group will be at Bideford Soapbox Derby on the 18th and have a special Bingo night with lots of prizes planned for Friday 23rd at the Pollyfield Centre, East-the-water.  If you are able to join us at either of those it would be lovely to see you and talk about how the campaign is progressing.

We also know that many people are having difficulties with the two factor authorisation in order to register an online pledge.  So we are in the process of setting up a paypal so those that have found it just too difficult to donate via Crowdjustice to donate online and we will added it to the crowdjustice for you.  Obviously this does involve more processing fees so please only use it if you absolutely have to.

Finally, thank you for everything that people are doing on and offline, it means a huge amount to the whole family of North Devon Link Centre users.  Please join the facebook group, suggest ideas for fundraising and join in with all the hard work of keeping it all rolling.  Together we can overcome all impediments and secure justice!

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