Welsh Government Cuts Threaten Deva House Care Centre

The news that funding for the Deva House day care centre is under threat after January because of cuts in funding from the Welsh Government has prompted protests from local councillors.

Cllr Marc Jones, Plaid Cymru, who chairs Caia Community Council, said: “Deva House has a great reputation among the older people it serves because they are involved in the day-to-day running of the centre. They grow their own food, can get a hot bath and a hot meal, as well as enjoy each other’s company.

“The threat to cut funding comes from decisions taken after the Welsh Government announced Caia and Hightown was to get £250,000 less funding this year for Communities First programmes. Deva House is partially funded by Communities First.

“This decision has serious implications for the care and well being of many elderly people who use the many services available at the centre. Whoever made the decision hasn’t considered the bigger picture and I’m totally opposed to reducing the service provided. Nobody’s discussed this matter with the people on the front line – the people who use the service and the people who deliver it, so they can’t have much of an idea of what they’re cutting.”

His concerns were supported by Councillor Keith Gregory, of Smithfield ward, who said: “We want to encourage people to live independently and Deva House helps keep people in their homes for as long as possible. These cuts – if we let them take place – undermine the hard work done by many volunteers in the local community, especially those supported by Caia Park Partnership. It makes no sense at all to be cutting money for a much-needed day centre when there are two children’s play centres within a mile of each other whose funding is untouched by these changes.”

Cllr Jones, who represents Whitegate ward on the community council, added that other services were also under threat from the Communities First changes, including support for disabled people in the community. He said: “The wider community hasn’t had a say in what services are cut and what services are maintained. We also need to get a clear message to those in charge of Communities First in Cardiff that these are important services they’re planning to axe and we won’t take it lying down.

The Caia Community Council met earlier this week to discuss the issue.