Letter about proposed cuts to Wellbeing Services
Below is the editor’s response to the proposed cuts to the Get Oldham Growing proposed cuts of £62,000. Please send letters of objection to : Rebecca.fletcher@oldham.gov.uk
Dear Rebecca,
Mike Rooke (Saddleworth Sports, Youth and Community Association (SSYCA)) has forwarded a letter about funding cuts to Get Oldham Growing.
This decision to cut funding is a great concern considering the extremely poor provisions of mental health services in the area, and then we hear of the decision to cut wellbeing services. Get Oldham Growing encourages many people to enjoy the outdoors and make the most of their gardening skills, all of which has been shown to be extremely beneficial to the general populations mental health.
Over 25% of Oldham population are known to suffer from mental health issues, however 100% of the population have mental health which needs to be upheld positively.
I have published this letter on Saddleworth Life, and shared it widely on social media, especially with the newly formed and much needed Breathe – Parent and Carer Support Group that has it’s own Wellbeing Garden and has been planning in collaboration with Saddleworth Sports, Youth and Community Association (SSYCA) in Greenfield, Wellington Road an expansion to encompass other wellbeing groups and a larger produce garden.
As chair of The Andrew Gidney Foundation I also strongly object to cuts of Wellbeing Service’s funding and call for an injection of funding instead. Oldham has a terrible history of poor support to those with mental health issues and a further cut is unjust.
I look forward to hearing your views on the ethics of such a funding cut and how Oldham Council see it as beneficial to the public.
Regards,
Jude
Judith Gidney
Editor – Saddleworth Life.com
Chairperson – The Andrew Gidney Foundation CEO
Director- Saddleworth Community Projects CIC
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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