Lawyers and Leading Charity Supporting Residents In Bid To Fight Closure Of Specialist Education Centres

A special meeting is being organised by Irwin Mitchell Solicitors for Doncaster residents to learn more about how the closures of Conisbrough, Cedar & Thorne Special Education Centres will affect them. Parents and carers of disabled service users can come along to the meeting to ask about their individual rights and learn more about the effect of the council’s decision.
 
The meeting will take place at the Trades club in the Frenchgate Centre on Monday 21 July 2014 at 10.30am to 12.30pm. It will have lawyers from Irwin Mitchell Solicitors who are helping to challenge the closures of several day centres and care homes in Doncaster. There will also be representatives from Mencap, the national learning disability charity
 
Katy Cowans, a specialist solicitor at Irwin Mitchell supporting the Doncaster residents’ legal challenge said: “All across the country vulnerable people such as the elderly and disabled are facing severe cuts to their services which are having a massive impact on their lives.
 
“The cuts to residential care and the closures of Special Education Centres in Doncaster are the latest to come under scrutiny and we have heard from many people about the negative affect that the Council’s decision will have. There are real questions about how the decision was made and what consultation had taken place beforehand.”
 
David Fiddament, a spokesperson for Mencap, the leading UK charity for people with learning disabilities, said: “This meeting is for people who are worried about how the closures of Conisbrough, Cedar & Thorne special education centres will affect them and the people they care for.
 
“We will talk about the next stage in the process and what people can do to have their voice heard about the decisions being taken by the Council. We will also explain what their legal entitlements are and where people can go for additional advice and support.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in Protecting Your Rights.