Henshaws will close its supported living services for adults with learning difficulties in Harrogate by October.
The decision will affect about 21 residents, with a further three having already moved to different care providers. A further 16 people who are not residents receive support and those services will transition as well.
Henshaws has told the families of its intention to withdraw the service and the county council has also written to them to provide support.
Those houses enable people of all ages with sight loss and a range of disabilities to live more independently with 24-hour help from specialist workers.
North Yorkshire County Council also took the opportunity to say that it was disappointed that Henshaws will close its Arts and Crafts service in Knaresborough.
Henshaws had previously been running a fundraising appeal ‘Art is the Start’ to update the centre to suit the people who use it. But has now concluded the centre is no longer economically viable.
Read more on this story:
- “Home once a week for love and cuddles,” the experience of a family with a loved one in Henshaws during the lockdown
- Why Henshaws is also closing its Arts and Crafts centre
In a statement to The Stray Ferret, Henshaws CEO Nick Marr said that the service had been on a “knife-edge financially before the virus.”
“Henshaws Home Support service was on a knife edge financially and the pressure on local authorities funding these and other places has increased. We are not able to sustain these services so we intend to transition out of providing them, at the latest, in October, to ensure the best continuity can be arranged for the service users. We will be consulting with staff in the service about the future of their roles.”
The latest financial account for Henshaws detailed how in the year up to August 2018 the charity was spending £12.3 million – which is £1 million more than its income.
Richard Webb, North Yorkshire County Council Director of Health and Adult Services said:
“We were surprised and disappointed to hear this news. Henshaws is much-valued by many people and, along with the other councils that fund people to use their services, we would have expected to have been involved in early discussions about this kind of momentous decision.”
