Somerset Council has been urged to take immediate action to secure the future of a social enterprise based in Ilminster town centre.
The Silver Linings internship programme, run by Evelyn Ashford, operates the Gamesmaster café and the Punky Dory alternative clothing shop, both located on Silver Street in the heart of the town.
The programme seeks to provide young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with work experience and education, preparing them for the world of work and being able to live as independently as possible.
The programme has run into financial difficulties in recent times due to government funding cuts, with Ms Ashford having to take on around £60,000 of personal debt to keep the programme operational.
Conservative Councillor Sue Osborne, who represents Ilminster and the surrounding villages, demanded an urgent meeting with SEND officers at the council when its executive committee met in Taunton on June 4.
The council said it was happy to meet with Silver Linings team in the near-future to find a way forward.
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Ms Osborne made her comments to the executive after attending Silver Linings’ open and awareness morning held at the Gamesmaster café on May 23.
She said: “This facility has been running now for some seven years, and has become a lifeline for young people with special educational needs.
“It is more than just a café; it offers a gold standard supported internship programme that combines work experience, emotional support and education to help young people achieve lasting independence.
“Unfortunately, the programme is now facing a funding crisis, with its director forced to accumulate around £60,000 in personal debt to maintain essential services.
“Recent changes to government funding for the ‘access to work’ programme has impacted the financial support allocated by the DWP to this facility.”
Ms Osborne claimed that there was “an ongoing disagreement” as to whether Silver Linings’ services could be funded through formal education, health and care plans (EHCPs) or whether it was a “supported internship” – with each option having different funding streams and eligibility criteria.
The council has experienced serious delays in agreeing and reviewing EHCPs in a timely fashion for SEND children – resulting in numerous fines being handed down by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO).
Ms Osborne added: “Somerset Council has so far not engaged as fully as it could to help to secure the future of this vital programme.
“This facility is of immense value, not just to Ilminster but to the surrounding towns and village, including Taunton.
Tragedy to lose
“Losing it would be a tragedy for the young people who rely on it. We have precious little in Ilminster, so let’s not lose what we have for our most vulnerable residents.”
Ms Osborne requested a meeting with the relevant portfolio holder and officers to discuss how Silver Linings could be secured and supported going forward.
The cafe and shop has filled their windows with placards calling on the council and government to take action, with slogans including ‘Starmer stole our future’, ‘save our jobs’ and ‘we ain’t got no education’ (a reference to Pink Floyd’s ‘Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)’).
Councillor Heather Shearer, portfolio holder for children and families, responded that she would visit Silver Linings in person, along with Councillor Val Keitch (the other Ilminster division member), Claire Winter (the council’s executive director for children and families) and Dr Julie Young (its senior expert advisor for careers and pathways.
Ms Shearer (who represents the Mendip West division) said: “As you’re aware, we have repeatedly explained what the options are for Silver Linings to be eligible for funding, and there is no current mechanism for the council to fund the organisation in the way they would like us to do.
“We are, of course, happy to work with Silver Linings. We have actually been working with them over the last 18 months – from time to time, we have engaged.
“We are more than happy to continue to do that and help them to meet any requirements for funding young people with special educational needs and disabilities.”
To make a donation to Silver Linings’ crowdfunder, visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-silver-lining-internships.
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