Salford says: Save Lancaster House!

A Save Lancaster House campaigner

Salford City Council intends to withdraw funding for Lancaster House - a training and resettlement centre which provides temporary accommodation for 38 single men - on 30 September 2011. If this goes ahead Lancaster House would become nothing more than a B&B.

Re-housing the residents without support before they are ready for the transition to independent living could lead to serious repercussions as these men all have significant and complex needs, including some with mental health disabilities and others with physical disabilities.

David Allum, chair of the residents' peer group, made an eleventh hour plea to Salford council during their council meeting, only for this to fall on deaf ears.

The councillor concerned refused to answer David's question as to what would happen to him and his fellow residents on 30 September, citing 'contractual reasons' for not responding.

The irony is that a Salvation Army chaplain led the opening council meeting prayers in which she said that 'we pray that we are able to support the vulnerable'.

In recent weeks Save Lancaster House campaigners have held protests, including a candlelit vigil, and lobbied Salford councillors. They haven't heard the last of us yet!

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