Supporting Voluntary and Community Action
The Disability Charities Consortium (DCC) has criticised the government for failing to represent the interests of disabled people.
In a statement, the DCC members say that disabled people are being forgotten by the government and have been allowed to fall through the cracks.
The consortium states that services for physically disabled people in particular have been overlooked and has said that there is a lack of coherent strategy to specifically support disabled people through the pandemic and beyond.
This is despite the fact that many services which people with disabilities rely on have been suspended and now face a perilous future.
The statement says:
“Despite repeated efforts to raise the issue, it feels like the UK’s 14 million disabled people, particularly those with physical conditions, are being forgotten and allowed to fall through the cracks.
“Providers of services are facing spiralling costs, a rapid drop in income from cancelled fundraising activities, but huge surges in demand as a result of the crisis, creating the perfect storm.
“Right now, we are collectively supporting millions of disabled people who are anxious, isolated and alone. Our staff are providing vital services, information and support under incredibly difficult circumstances. Sometimes we are the only place that disabled people have to turn.
“We want to be there for every disabled person who needs us, but this could soon be an impossibility. Disability charities, large and small, are at risk of disappearing at the very time that disabled people need us most. Without vital funds, we will have stark choices to make about cutting services or, in some cases, closing our doors.”
The DCC members are: