Save our services

Unite – which represents staff in Oxfordshire county council’s early intervention hubs – will join hundreds of concerned residents on the streets of Oxford tomorrow (Saturday 14 November ) to oppose the council’s ÂŁ8 million planned cuts to children’s services.

The demonstration comes hard on the heels of the row over David Cameron’s letter to council chief Ian Hudspeth, complaining of the cuts to frontline services in his constituency.

Unite is urging the residents of Oxfordshire to get online and take part in the council’s consultation to stop the destruction of vital support services for young people and their families.

The jobs of 420 highly skilled workers, dealing with some of the county’s most marginalised young people, are at risk; with the closure of 44 children centres, seven early intervention hubs and six satellite hubs.

Speak up

Ahead of the march and rally in Oxford, Chris Gray Unite regional officer said: “Oxfordshire’s young people need us now more than ever to speak up to save their services.

 

“We are urging every resident to make their voice heard by taking part in the council’s online public consultation over its proposals to slash £8 million from its children’s early intervention service budget.

 

Lives blighted

 

“Our professionally qualified members work with some of Oxfordshire’s most marginalised young people. They fear that young lives will be blighted if these cuts are given the green light.

 

“By helping young people in need, they help protect them from more costly interventions, like mental health services and prison.

 

Out of touch

 

“The widely reported exchange of letters between David Cameron and the council chief has revealed just how utterly out-of-touch the prime minister is when it comes to the impact of his own policies.

 

“As the council leader, Ian Hudspeth carefully explained a 37 percent cut in government funding since 2010 is no ‘slight fall’. Now, as has been pointed out to the prime minister, there is nothing left to cut but frontline services.

 

“Let this serve as wake up call to Cameron and Osborne.

 

Gone too far

 

“You have cut too deep and gone too far. Your plans for further deep cuts of £10.5bn to 2020 will spell the end of local government and vital local services.

 

“We can guarantee, that just like the residents on Cameron’s door step, the great British public will not take this lying down.”

 

WHEN: Saturday 14 November 2015, at 13:00

WHERE: Assemble, Bonn Square Oxford, march to the Clarendon Building on Broad Street

Residents are urged to take part in the County Council’s online public consultation on the proposed new model for children’s services in Oxfordshire at https://consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk/consult.ti/eiservicesreview/answerQuestionnaire?qid=3858083