1,000 back petition to save charity with 400 jobs 'hanging in balance

ORGANISATION SUPPORTS 140 SEVERELY DISABLED PEOPLE IN N.WALES

- By STEVE BAGNALL

Trystan Williams with sister Rhian

A PETITION to save a North Wales disability charity has now been backed by more than 1,000 people.

The petition calls on the Welsh Government to step in to come to rescue of Anheddau which supports 140 severely disabled people from across Gwynedd, Conwy, Anglesey, Denbighshire and Wrexham.

The organisation, which has helped people with autism, learning disabilities, mental health conditions and complex needs for more than 35 years, is fighting for its future because of soaring costs.

It has been revealed that it's facing a £400,000 shortfall because of increases in the Real Living Wage and National Employer Contributions - leaving 400 jobs hanging in the balance.

The petition was launched on the Welsh Parliament’s website by Bala couple Laura and Mark Bugby and their daughter Rebecca. Laura and Mark’s son John is supported by Anheddau but his family are worried about his future care should the organisation fold.

The petition, which can be found here urges the Welsh Government to ensure funding it gives to councils for charities is fully passed through to the organisations.

It also calls for the Welsh Government to enforce fair commissioning standards, engage with providers on funding impacts and commit to long-term reform to protect essential care services. If 10,000 people sign the petition, it will be considered for debate in the Senedd.

Other families who would be affected by the closure of Anheddau have also spoken out in support for the petition. They include Trystan Williams whose severely disabled sister Rhian Williams is cared for by Anheddau.

Trystan and Rhian were brought up in Bangor, where their father Will Parry Williams was a long-serving headteacher at the former Ysgol Treborth residential special school.