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We Are Beams charity supporting parents of disabled children ‘devastated’ at loss of £600,000 funding

A charity boss has told of her “devastation” at losing almost £600,000 of public funding to look after parents of disabled children.

Kent County Council (KCC) has withdrawn financial support and handed it to another supplier.

We Are Beams annual Colour Dash at Jeskyns park, in Gravesend, on June 25, 2023. Picture: Rachel Evans
We Are Beams annual Colour Dash at Jeskyns park, in Gravesend, on June 25, 2023. Picture: Rachel Evans

From April, We Are Beams, which is based in Hextable, near Swanley, will end its 17 year service helping 1,100 people who have children with disabilities in Dartford, Gravesham and Sevenoaks.

The charity provides a range of services such as advice, short breaks, respite care and brokerage.

The contract with KCC was worth £582,304 but the ten staff funded by the Direct Payment Support Service will be transferred to the new provider.

Chief executive of the charity, Katrina Adams said the new contractor does not have charitable status but wished it well.

She said: “We are devastated to be losing this contract and we hope the new supplier, which is not a charity, will support the parents in every way possible.

We Are Beams was previously named children's charity of the year. Picture: Simon Hildrew
We Are Beams was previously named children's charity of the year. Picture: Simon Hildrew

“Beams linked up parents to other services and offered help to all family members. Everything we do has the disabled child at the heart of it.

“It is evident that the cost of our bid for the contract was a determining factor.”

The charity boss said her concern lies with the families who will find the move a “big change”.

Ms Adams added: “We are still here for all families if we are needed to support them with our other five services.”

The charity says the support it offers goes beyond the care provision and challenges social isolation, promotes friendship, improves mental health and offers families a rest from the demands of giving care.

A KCC spokesperson said: “We Are Beams is a valued provider of support for disabled children and young people and their families in Kent.

“The Direct Payment Support Service was re-tendered last year and we have selected a new provider who best met our criteria and threshold for quality and good value for taxpayers’ money.

“All providers who tendered for this service were advised of our decision in December.

“We look forward to continuing working with We are Beams’ many other services to ensure specialist support for our families who need it.”

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