North Yorkshire County Council will take over the running of Henshaws’ supported living service from October.

Senior county councillors voted at a meeting of the authority’s executive today to take over the service, which currently has 10 properties in Harrogate with a capacity for 26 people in total.

It comes as county council bosses said they were not confident that handing over the service to another provider would not result in the loss of services and that taking over would “ensure full continuation of services”.

Cllr Michael Harrison, executive member for health and adult services at the county council, said it was important for the authority to remember those people who use the service when deciding to take it over.

He said:

“A key thing here is not to lose sight of the fact that we have got individuals living independent lives and in order to do that they receive support funded by ourselves.

“It is absolutely critical that we do not lose sight of the benefits of a contract like this. Ultimately, on the one hand you could look at pounds and pence but on the other hand this is people being facilitated and supported to live independently.

“It is really important from a council perspective that we make sure that is possible. I think this is a good decision from a continuity of service perspective. 

“I think we can also look at what we are providing and the efficiency of doing that so we can deliver service continuity, efficient use of resources and positive recruitment opportunities in the Harrogate area.”

Richard Webb, director of health and adult services, added that transfer of staff over to the county council was subject to approval. If approved, the authority would then begin a recruitment process.

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 lockdown
• Why Henshaws is also closing its Arts and Crafts centre
• Henshaws to close homes service for disabled by October

The decision to close the service by Henshaws caused uncertainty for families with loved ones in the care of the charity

One family with a member with disabilities who uses the service said they would support the county council but urged them to “get it right”.

They said:

“I do believe that they want to make it work and get it right. What I do not want is for them to come in and think they can save money everywhere. They have to make it right.

“Everybody wants the same outcome, they want these adults to be supported well.”

It comes after Henshaws announced in June that it would close the service. The charity gave four weeks’ notice on the contract in March, but county council bosses negotiated a an extension until October in order to consider options for the future of the service.

Meanwhile, the charity’s CEO, Nick Marr, told the Stray Ferret that the charity has been on a “knife-edge financially”. Latest financial accounts from August 2018 show it to be spending £12.3 million – £1 million more than its income.

No further accounts have been published by the organisation. However, it announced earlier this year it would not be reopening its arts and crafts centre in Knaresborough because of financial difficulties.

Families with loved ones in the care of Henshaws will be waiting on a county council decision today on a proposal for the authority to take over the charity’s assisted living service.

North Yorkshire County Council bosses want to bring the service, which currently has 10 properties in Harrogate with a capacity for 26 people in total, in-house.

Senior councillors will vote on the proposal this morning, which would see the authority take over the service from October.

One family with a person with disabilities in Henshaws said they would support the county council, should it approve the plan, but urged them to “get it right”.

They said:

“I do believe that they want to make it work and get it right. What I do not want is for them to come in and think they can save money everywhere. They have to make it right.

“Everybody wants the same outcome, they want these adults to be supported well.”

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 lockdown
• Why Henshaws is also closing its Arts and Crafts centre
• Henshaws to close homes service for disabled by October

In a report, the county council said it is not confident that handing over the service to another company would not result in the loss of services and that taking over would “ensure full continuation of services”.

It comes as Henshaws announced back in June that it would close the service.

The charity’s CEO, Nick Marr, told the Stray Ferret that the charity has been on a “knife-edge financially”. Latest financial accounts from August 2018 show it to be spending £12.3 million – £1 million more than its income.

No further accounts have been published by the organisation. However, it announced earlier this year it would not be reopening its arts and crafts centre in Knaresborough because of financial difficulties.

The county council said it became aware of the charity’s financial situation in November 2019.

It added that it was now “determined” to get the best outcome for families by taking over the running of the supported living service.

North Yorkshire County Council looks set to take over supported living services for adults with learning difficulties in Harrogate from Henshaws.

A report due to go before the authority’s executive next week will seek approval to transfer the service in-house from October this year.

The service provided by Henshaws currently has 10 properties in Harrogate with a capacity for 26 people in total.

In the report, the county council said it is not confident that handing over the service to another company would not result in the loss of services and that taking over would “ensure full continuation of services”.

However, it added that the move to bring the service in-house does not rule out handing it over to another company at a later date.

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 lockdown
• Why Henshaws is also closing its Arts and Crafts centre
• Henshaws to close homes service for disabled by October

It comes after Henshaws CEO, Nick Marr, told the Stray Ferret that the charity has been on a “knife-edge financially”. Latest financial accounts from August 2018 show it to be spending £12.3 million – £1 million more than its income.

No further accounts have been published by the organisation. However, it announced earlier this year it would not be reopening its arts and crafts centre in Knaresborough because of financial difficulties.

The county council said it became aware of the charity’s financial situation in November 2019.

Four months later, Henshaws gave four weeks’ notice on its supported living contract before the authority negotiated an extension until October in order to consider options for the future of the service.

Now, the report before senior councillors said the county council is determined to get the best outcome for families and the taxpayer.

It said:

“Following significant work with the existing provider, we cannot be assured that they can deliver a provider to provider transfer without resulting in some services being withdrawn. 

“There remains a lack of clarity on the current services being offered and due diligence has highlighted that the existing service is heavily reliant upon agency staff.

“In responding to these issues, the council is determined to get the best outcome for individuals and their families, for the local community and for the taxpayer.”

Senior councillors on the county council’s executive will vote on the proposal to transfer the service at a meeting on August 25.

Henshaws has launched a new fundraising initiative to raise vital funds after experiencing shortfalls it attributes to coronavirus.

Its new Henshaws Hundreds Challenge will begin on September 21. Participants are asked to pick a hundred of any distance they like and get sponsored for it.

It costs £5 to sign up and all fees and sponsors will go to the charity to help support those living with disabilities to build skills and develop confidence. Participants can choose to complete their 100 alone or within a group and are asked to use a mobile app to track their distance.

Gemma Young, Henshaws Fundraising Manager for Yorkshire, said

“Inclusivity is at the heart of the Henshaws Hundreds challenge. It’s possible to cover your chosen distance in a wheelchair, using a walking frame, walking on your hands, or by running, walking swimming or cycling. Plus we hope we’ll also attract a few fun entries with people perhaps skateboarding, hula-hooping, or pogo-sticking their challenge!”

The money raised through the challenge will begin to cover the funds lost during missed fundraising opportunities over lockdown.

Read more:

• No plans to close Henshaws College as its arts and craft centre and supported living services have to close. 
• A mother describes how she kept in contact with her daughter in assisted living as they both had to self-isolate. 

The charity’s recent financial struggles forced it to close its arts and craft centre in Knaresborough and cut its supported living services.

Henshaws was criticised at the time by people whose family members were in the supported living facility who accused the charity of financial mismanagement. The families also said there was a disconnect between upper management and those using the service.

The charity responded to these claims and said:

“These are extremely difficult decisions being taken in exceptional circumstances and our team will continue to support people across Yorkshire in every way we can.”

Friends of the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate have launched an online exhibition focussing specifically on art works created through lockdown.

The exhibition, which opens on August 1, is open to all artists and creative people. The artwork will be displayed in 6 different categories including painting and drawing, ceramics and sculpture and an additional category for students.

The final date for submissions is 5pm on July 25th.  Organisers of the event will then choose the best pieces to be included in the exhibition.

Read more: 

• Harrogate Theatre relieved as government arts funding announced
• Pop up art gallery opens permanently in Harrogate 

Submission from ceramic artists Eric Moss.

Deputy Chair of the Friends of the Mercer Project, Catherine Wright, told The Stray Ferret:

“It is funny where inspiration can come from, especially during these tough times. This exhibition is a great opportunity to share your work and show a bit of positivity during this dark time.”

Donations from the sale of artworks will go towards supporting Wellspring Therapy and Training in Starbeck and Henshaws.

For more information on how to enter visit https://www.friendsofthemercerartgallery.co.uk. 

Nearly 2500 people have signed a petition to try and save Henshaws Arts and Crafts centre from closure.

Henshaws said at the start of the month that it will need to make long term changes to ensure that its services have a future, including closing the community hub in Knaresborough for the foreseeable future.

That decision struck the people who rely on Henshaws Arts and Crafts hard, leading to the petition to save it.

Read more on this story:

• When Henshaws will stop its supported living service
• “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
• Why this family feels let down by Henshaws senior management

Caroline Dinsmore set it up and said that the centre has changed lives by transforming shy and unconfident disabled adults into confident and committed artists. She said:

“Let’s not lose staff skills and the most inspiring place to visit that Knaresborough and North Yorkshire have. My daughter has always wanted to work there, she says it’s her second family and when we visit everyone remembers her. It’s the one place we visit that she feels positive about being disabled.”

Alongside the closure of the Arts and Crafts Centre, the disability charity will also cut its supported living services in Harrogate. However, the charity said the college is not under threat.

Adrian Sudgen, Henshaws Specialist College principal, said:

“We understand the current closure of the Centre will undoubtedly cause a great deal of distress. We will do everything we can to help during these sad and uncertain times. These are extremely difficult decisions being taken in exceptional circumstances and our team will continue to support people across Yorkshire in every way we can.”

There are no plans to close Henshaws College despite the charity cutting back some of its services to balance the books.

Henshaws has cut the Arts and Crafts Centre as well as its supported living services but the college is safe for the foreseeable future.

The charity told The Stray Ferret that the college is a regulated service with different contractual responsibilities and different funding.

It has been open during lockdown with just over half of its pupils attending. The rest are either off because their parents are keeping them away or because the college does not have enough room.

Whether preparing for employment, making friends, or learning to live more independently, the college offers flexible courses for disabled young people.

Read more on this story:

• When Henshaws will stop its supported living service
• “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
• Why this family feels let down by Henshaws senior management

Henshaws College is still accepting applications for the next academic year and is planning to hold a virtual open day in July.

The charity says it is proud of the work it has done in the lockdown and has also won praise from the Department for Education and the CQC.

The family of a person with disabilities living in a Henshaws’ home said they felt let down and upset when they found out that the service will stop – four months after the original decision was made.

Henshaws announced publicly yesterday that it’s to close supported living services in October – affecting about 21 residents. The charity had told North Yorkshire County Council back in March that it was unable to continue the service.

The Stray Ferret spoke to two families today – one who currently has a family member in assisted living at Henshaws, the other whose child was previously a resident.

Both were deeply critical of the charity’s management of finances. They also said that upper management rarely met with the people who used the service.

The family member whose loved one is currently in care said they were kept in the dark about the decision to close the service and they are now very worried about what happens next.

“The impact of this is on vulnerable adults who don’t have a voice. I feel sorry for the service users and for the staff who work hard and they have been working even harder during coronavirus. We don’t know what will happen next but if there are big changes then it will be hugely traumatic for the disabled people living in Henshaws. The management should be ashamed for letting the finances get to this point.”

Read more on this story:

• When Henshaws will stop its supported living service
• “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

The latest financial account for Henshaws details how in the year up to August 2018, the charity spent £12.3 million – a £1 million more than its income.

Another person who had their child in one of Henshaws’ homes for several years echoed those frustrations:

“I am not surprised that Henshaws has decided to stop its support living service. The staff in charge had tried their best to run a good service but they had not been supported adequately by the head office.”

The charity is also closing its Arts and Crafts service in Knaresborough, which caters to about 160 people.

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.

The comments from family members follows a statement yesterday from the charity’s CEO Nick Marr:

“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.”

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.”

Henshaws has announced its Arts and Crafts centre in Knaresborough will remain closed for the foreseeable future. The centre has been hit hard financially during the current coronavirus crisis which has lead it to make this decision.

The centre was closed before lockdown, in line with safety measures. The centre had previously been running a fundraising appeal ‘Art is the Start’ to update the centre to suit the people who use it. But have now concluded the centre is no longer economically viable.

The charity is now considering options for the future in order to find a sustainable future.

Henshaws Chief Executive Nick Marr said:

“We are now consulting Centre staff about the future of their roles within the organisation. We also know that the Centre and its work are valued hugely by both the Art Makers and the local community. This decision will undoubtedly cause a great deal of distress to our Art Makers and their families and all of our loyal volunteers, as well as to our staff, and we will do everything we can to help during these sad times but we find ourselves unable to continue to provide this service. The financial situation was stretched before lockdown but COVID 19 has had a huge financial impact on us.”

The closure of the Arts and Crafts Centre will likely sadden some of its visitors, but the charity is hopeful for the future.

Read more: 

• A mental-health charity in Harrogate launches fundraising appeal to continue helping those in need over lockdown. 
• Girlguides use sunflowers to spread a little happiness during coronavirus. 

Henshaws Specialist College has remained open to students throughout the crisis. It is hopeful that numbers will be maintained into the new academic year starting in September.

Nick Marr added:

“This is an extremely difficult decision being taken in exceptional circumstances and our team has done, and is doing, some fantastic work supporting hundreds of people across Yorkshire.”