Nine residents with learning disabilities were left without vital support – after a council contract was not renewed.

Residents in Lovatt Court, in Stoke, had received support from charity Brighter Futures since 2022.

But Stoke-on-Trent City Council decided not to renew its £90,000 city-wide contract with Brighter Futures which had been due for renewal at the end of July 2024. It resulted in the Lovatt Court residents slipping through the bureaucratic net.

Councillor Daniela Santoro became aware of the issue when she was contacted by a service user just days before the contract was to expire.

Cllr Daniela Santoro was contacted just days vefore the contract was to expire (Image supplied).

She told councillors: "It was clear that the resident was distraught and fearful and he mentioned his support workers from Brighter Futures had advised him to contact me as they would no longer be providing support. He expressed that all the residents at Lovatt Court were terrified as his support worker played a crucial role in his daily life by conducting weekly home visits; assisting with reading correspondence; grocery shopping; managing his benefits; and paying his bills. The resident indicated that he was too anxious to contact the council suggesting he perceived them as an intimidating statutory body.

"He also shared that he was unable to read a letter left by his support worker and expressed a strong reluctance to attend a community hub as he does not use public transport due to distress. Nor does he feel comfortable discussing personal matters in front of strangers."

The service provided city-wide support for people with a learning disability and autism to help them live independently in the community. A three-month notice period was given informing residents of alternative services in their local community.

The council decided not to renew its £90k contract with Brighter Futures (Nub News).

But the Lovatt Court residents initially slipped through the net. They have since been seen by social workers.

Peter Tomlin, director of adult social care, health integration and wellbeing, said: "There was a paper brought to our management meeting and it was recommending decommissioning of the contract. The contract is the early intervention, prevent contract for learning disabilities, which effectively is to support people that do not require care and support needs. So it's outside our legal duties to provide but I would accept the point that was made which is that if you don't provide support for people on the edge of that then eventually they'll come into your service anyway often in crisis."

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