Neighbourly Care Southall has fought back to defend the £290,000 funding allocated to its 22 consortium member organisations as rival bidders Southall Day Centre launch an appeal.

The £290,000 funding has been conditionally offered to the organisation which represents a consortium of 22 community organisations right across Ealing.

Southall Day Centre, made up of a consortium of seven organisations including Age UK, MIND and Mencap has, as a result, lost out on 75% of their funding from the council.

They argue that the money could be shared between the two consortiums and is planning a protest on July 28, as without the money they face closure.

However, some feel that the smaller groups have been overlooked and that it’s time they were given more funding to support their grassroots work.

Chair of trustees Abdirisak Jibril, for Golden Opportunity Youth Association (GOYA), one of the 22 oranisations set to benefit from the funding, said: “The consortium has groups from different communities including Asian, Nepalese, Somali, Tamil, Gujarati and Afro Caribbean.

"Together we serve thousands of people each year from these different communities.

“Our organisation and other minority groups have suffered for long enough in Ealing because of a lack of resources while larger organisations have been given millions of pounds.

"These groups have taken this funding for granted and think that it is their right to be funded each year.”

'Concerned'

Neighbourly Care Southall is the lead partner for the administrative purposes of the grant application representing 22 of Ealing’s community organisations which include Ealing Somali Welfare and Cultural Association (ESWCA), CAME Women and Girls Development Organisation.

Andrew Buddle, chief executive officer of Neighbourly Care Southall, said: “We reach every location in the borough encompassing Greenford, Acton, Hanwell, Northolt, Southall, West Ealing, Perivale, Central Ealing and Northfields.

“Between us, our partnership adds up to 300 years of experience of working with Ealing’s disadvantaged and vulnerable communities – we have over 6,000 clients and for many years have worked with hundreds of older people from all of those communities – delivering quality services where it matters, at the point of need.

“Our centre in Southall alone has over 3,500 members who come from over 60 different countries of birth and we celebrate the wealth and richness of cultural diversity that makes up our community.

“We applaud the council’s decision to award funding to our partnership – based on our track record, a competitive application process, and value for money – and we look forward to confirmation of the council’s offer of grant so that we may offer services to older people from all communities in every part of the borough."

Southall Day Centre is run by a consortium made up of Age UK Ealing, Anglo Caribbean Society, The Centre for Armenian Information and Advice, Mencap, MIND and Southall Day Centre.

Joint chief executive for Age UK Ealing, Karen Robinson, said: “This situation has been brought about as a direct result of the way that the council have decided to allocate the funds and has nothing to do with the overall level of funding available.

“We are extremely concerned that the hundreds of people who use our consortium’s services will be left isolated which will have a significant impact on their emotional and physical wellbeing.

“Many older people will be gathering outside Ealing Town Hall on Tuesday (July 28) at 6pm in order to protest at the situation before the council meeting at 7pm.”

An Ealing Council spokeswoman said the allocation process for health and social care grants is still in progress and any organisation which has been unsuccessful in its bid has the right to appeal.

She added: “The council will give careful consideration to the points made in such appeals. However, in the light of the overall financial context facing the council it is inevitable that some organisations will be disappointed.”