A petition has been launched to encourage the London Borough of Havering to look again at the decision to withdraw funding from adult services in Havering. As we reported earlier this week, (https://www.sycamoretrust.org.uk/latest/article/Uncertain-future ) the Sycamore Trust Autism Hub in Romford's Liberty Centre is threatened with closure as council officials planto remove backing for the service.
A petition has been launched and over 500 people have signed already.
We have provided a service for Havering's autistic adults from the Hub since 2015, but the service is threatened with closure following a decision from the London Borough of Havering to withdraw funding. Sycamore's services to the Havering autistic community include a peer group for young adults, an outreach service for hard-to-reach adults and the Autism Steering Group, which feeds into the LBH Autism Strategy. In addition, the Sycamore Hub has supported adults with applications for PIP, help with housing, employment and education issues and more importantly, offered a safe space where autistic adults are welcomed without judgment.
With around 700,000 autistic people in the UK, many of us know a family or individual for whom Autism is part of daily life. LBH officials have indicated that other services in Havering support autistic adults, but these do not address their needs or provide them with support for seeking employment, creating social connections and helping with benefit, legal or housing difficulties.
Sycamore Trust understands that a final decision on funding of services for Havering autistic adults is not expected until 7th December and we urge everyone to sign the petition and encourage LBH to save the Sycamore Trust service for autistic adults in Havering.