LUNCHEON clubs for adults with learning disabilities and older people will be fully cut by the council by 2024 to “ensure the services provided match people’s needs and aspirations”.

Under Wiltshire Council’s proposed 2022/23 budget it will reduce the friendship and luncheon clubs’ funding by 50 per cent – with the rest to be taken away in 2023/24.

The council has said it would support the clubs if they look for alternative funding from organisations such as Area Boards.

“Currently people use luncheon and friendship clubs in a number of ways,” says the council.

The council says it wants people to have a say on how these and other services are provided in the future.

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It added that priorities will be focussed on the strengths and potential of people to make positive differences, increase choice and control and develop life skills.

Leader of the council, Richard Clewer said: “We want to ensure people have the right support so they can live well and be a part of their community.

“Day services are valuable opportunities to help promote this independence and community engagement, and currently these services are provided in a number of ways.

“For the future we want to provide more personalised options that benefit those who most need our support and ensure opportunities are equitable across Wiltshire.

“To achieve this we will be advertising a new tender to provide day opportunities, with new provision beginning in the summer.

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“Our aim will be to ensure residents’ social needs continue to be met, either by existing community resources or through providing new services, and we will be asking people currently using these services to share their thoughts.”

According to the local authority, the successful new services will start from the summer.