Charity chief calls for action to protect council funding (From Harrow Times)

Harrow Association of Disabled People's chief executive says Harrow Council not aware of plight of charities

12:11pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Headlines By Jaber Mohamed

The chief executive of a charity for disabled people has called on Harrow Borough Council to do more to protect voluntary sector services.

Angela Dias, chief executive of the Harrow Association of Disabled People, asked the council to address funding cuts to charities at its meeting last Thursday.

She said the third sector works with a quarter of people across Harrow and that any funding is extremely valuable.

Mrs Dias said: “There are massive changes to health benefits.

“As services are getting more expensive because of the cuts and as people have to pay more, our role is more vital.

“The proportion of funding right now is extremely small.”

Mrs Dias fears the council does not realise what is happening to the third sector and said charities can deliver services much more cheaply than the authority or the private sector.

She is also worried about the ending of Citizens Advice Bureau’s drop-in service and added: “I’m massively worried about the effect it will have on people.

“There are people getting themselves into a lot of trouble and some of them can’t cope with the telephone service.

“The council needs to do more to help charities and voluntary organisations.”