A charity for parents of special needs children which faces having its funding withdrawn has won a reprieve after angry protests.
Intuition Parent Partnership was set up three years ago to take on services previously provided by Ealing Council to link children with learning difficulties and disabilities to schools, health and social services.
But the Ealing-based charity was not invited to tender for a new contract when its current agreement expires in December, prompting outrage from parents who fear the service will be taken over by an outside organisation with no experience of working in the borough.
Protesters gathered outside Ealing Town Hall on Tuesday (16) to voice their anger, prompting cabinet to postpone a decision to award the £137,000 contract elsewhere.
Details of the proposed successor are confidential, but it is thought an east London-based organisation may have been lined up by council officers.
Farzana Kahn(CORR), of Shaftesbury Gardens, Acton, who relied on Intuition for help after her four-year-old daughter Aarzoo(CORR) was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, said: "It's really disheartening. The help I've had so far from has been exceptional."
Postponing the decision at last night's cabinet meeting, Ealing Council leader Jason Stacey said: "It's important that before a decision is made by this cabinet, that we are fully confident of the facts surrounding this process, and we double check to make sure the whole process has been followed properly."
For the full story and more reaction from parents see the Gazette on Friday. A decision will be made at the next cabinet meeting on October 14.
