Zoe Richards, CEO of Learning Disability Wales, warns of a crisis happening within the third sector in Wales that is likely to have a significant impact on the lives of people with a learning disability.

In May I wrote a blog about the growing closures of organisations that support people with a learning disability in Wales. I am now conscious that these closures are becoming the norm. Soon after the last blog we saw the closure notice for Vale People First. Last week, BCA Powys (which operates Powys People First) announced they are closing after 30 years, due to lack of funding.

Meanwhile, Anheddau, the largest not-for-profit support provider for people with a learning disability in North Wales, has revealed they are “facing a desperate fight to survive” following recent rises to National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the Real Living Wage.

Registered charities are being forced to use their reserves to plug holes and subsidise contracts. Negotiations with local authorities and Welsh Government are underway but the realities of the Real Living Wage and the National Insurance hike are leaving organisations with very few options.

What will happen if they fold? There is a very real danger that care and support packages will be taken over by companies with fewer values, who we fear will offer an inferior model of support based on providing the bare minimum at the lowest cost. People will go through unnecessary change, anxiety for people and their families will soar, increasing the need for other support services and some people may enter unsuitable and inappropriate settings. This cannot be accepted as a part of life for people – just because they have a learning disability.

Couple this with other challenges faced by support living providers in Wales, such as fire regulation changes and difficulties with staff recruitment and retention, and we begin to see a damning picture. Supported living was created in Wales as a catalyst to supporting people to live in their communities. Our support in Wales has long been the envy of other countries, since our groundbreaking All Wales Strategy in 1984. However, we are at risk of diminishing our wonderful and vibrant third sector if we don’t take action now.

Learning Disability Wales is writing to Ministers and local authorities and urge you to share the news articles of these closures and get in touch with your local representatives. You can also sign and share the Senedd petition asking for fair funding for charitable social care providers in Wales.