(Recap: Becky’s been doing work experience with VB this week as part of her studies at Carisbrooke School. Here’s an opinion piece by her – Ed)
Yesterday I visited the Medina Centre in Newport for the first time, for the farewell BBQ. I had barely heard about it before, and, like many Islanders, knew nothing about its sudden closure.
When I went in, I was greeted by the smiling and laughing faces of those who didn’t fully understand what the day symbolised, and the tears of the few that did. Even though it was a sad day for everyone involved, I still felt an overwhelming sense of happiness, safety and family, to which I felt welcomed.
Why Is It Losing Funding?
The Isle of Wight council are taking funding away from Medina Centre and the Island-NHS say they can’t support it by themselves.
Most recently – last Monday (21th June) – the Island authorities told those in residential care that they’d realised that they’ve been paying twice for their day care. Once to those providing residential care and also to the day care centres. Some of the money paid to residential homes is meant to go towards looking after their residents and providing entertainment.
This came as news to parents, those with learning difficulties and staff, who knew nothing about it. So from today, residential care home staff are expected to look after their clients all day, as well as care for the residents during the night. 1/3 of Medina Centre’s users live in residential care.
Remember, they were only told just over a week ago that as of today they can’t go to Medina Centre.
What Does It Mean?
So now those in residential care aren’t able to visit Medina Centre anymore. Which is just like someone coming up to you and saying ‘In a few days, you can’t go out and see your friends anymore, you can’t go out and do what you’ve been doing for years, you have to change your whole routine, and you have to sit at home all day with your carers.’ Can you even imagine being told that?
Through no fault of their own, these people are the most vulnerable in society, and always seem to lose out. Nobody asked for this, and we should be supporting them to the best of our abilities, which I don’t feel we are.
A Family
As we interviewed people it became clear that everyone considered themselves as one big family. How you can split up a family is something I will never understand. It’s just not right, it doesn’t feel human.
In my opinion, nothing about this situation is human, from the lack of notice about the closure, to the splitting up of a family. The council have let so many people down, and I know I speak for many other Islanders when I say I am appalled at the handling of the situation.
