Fears as day service provider ends contract

Families have raised concerns over their relatives' future care after a day service provider said it was ending its contract with Leeds City Council.

Aspire Community Benefit Society provides support to more than 700 adults with learning disabilities at venues across Leeds.

However, it said it was ending its contract for in-building day services from May 2027, blaming "ongoing chronic under-funding" in social care nationally, along with continued increases in costs.

The council said it expected to have a new provider in place by May, but some families said the uncertainty was "really frightening".

Amrik Reehal, 58, has severe cerebral palsy and acute learning difficulties meaning he needs 24-hour care.

His sister, Tajinder Blackman, 45, said the situation with Aspire "feels like a nightmare" for their whole family.

She said they were trying to behave "happily and positively" around Amrik as they were concerned about the impact the decision would have on him and his physical and mental health.

Pat Turner, from Crossgates, said her daughter, Kerry was "in tears" when she found out, having gone through a similar situation 12 months earlier.

Kerry, 47, who has a severe learning disability, severe anxiety and is non-verbal, was receiving day services support at Strawberry Lane Community Centre, in Armley, but now attends Aspire sessions at Kirkstall Leisure Centre five days a week - while also living in supported accommodation.

Pat said that although Kerry was now settled, the renewed uncertainty had "set her back" and she was not convinced that the process of finding a new provider would be a smooth one.

"The new providers would have to take the whole group, which would be very expensive," she said.

"Day services could be split into three different areas, it could be split even further, so we're not sure as to what actually is being offered and we're not so sure that things will be the same."

Alison Freeman, from Wortley, said the uncertainty was "really frightening" for her son Lewis, who has Down's syndrome.

The 31-year-old has been attending Aspire day sessions at Pudsey Leisure Centre for around a year.

"I don't want him to become isolated as a young man, he loves spending time with other people his own age, he's very outgoing, he's loved Aspire, she said.

Aspire CBS is a staff-owned, not-for-profit, social enterprise with charitable status.

A spokesperson said it had faced "continued financial challenges", including increases to employers' national insurance and ongoing pressures on annual funding.

They said the "latest challenge" was a decision that meant it could no longer reclaim VAT.

Rebecca Phillips, from Aspire CBS, acknowledged the "time of uncertainty is hard for all involved", but said the organisation was committed to a "smooth transition of these day services and with the least disruption".

Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire described the decision to end the contract as a "real blow" for the families and said she thought the council would struggle to find a new provider in the current climate.

Andy Burnham has pledged to reform the adult social care system in England and the Department of Health and Social Care said the government was "creating a National Care Service with clear consistent standards of support for everyone who needs it".

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: "Aspire has given notice that it intends to end its contract to deliver building-based day services in May 2027. All other services, including respite and supported living, will continue as normal."

The council are in the process of procuring new providers, with arrangements expected to be in place by May next year.

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