A desperate family have launched a petition calling on the Welsh Government to step in and save a lifeline disability charity facing a funding crisis.<\/p>\n
Laura and Mark Bugby, from Bala, fear for the future care of their severely disabled son, John, if Anheddau \u2013 which supports 140 from across Gwynedd, Conwy, Anglesey, Denbighshire and Wrexham \u2013 is forced to shut its doors.<\/p>\n
The organisation, which has helped people with autism, learning disabilities, mental health conditions and complex needs for more than 35 years is battling soaring costs.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s revealed that it\u2019s staring at a \u00a3400,000 shortfall due to rises in the Real Living Wage and National Employer Contributions \u2013 leaving 400 jobs hanging in the balance.<\/p>\n
According to Anheddau, it\u2019s facing a \u201cticking timebomb\u201d over the funding and says it may be forced to consider making redundancies in October unless local authorities provide a rescue package to cover its additional costs.<\/p>\n
Laura Bugby, who works for the community dental service, said the survival of Anheddau was essential for her son\u2019s health and happiness, and praised the work of the charity\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cJohn has lived in an Anheddau supported house for 11 years, and before that he lived at home with us until he was 19.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn has a severe learning disability and his house is provided by a housing association and he lives there with another two residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnheddau provides the 24-hour support that he needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe charity\u2019s staff make sure that he is fed, that he\u2019s washed, they do all the personal care.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey provide him one-to-one care in the house and the two-to-one care that he has to have when he\u2019s out in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe goes out every day and has a different activity to do every day.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe does the weekly shop over in Porthmadog with the support of his carers, he goes swimming three times a week, and goes cycling once a week – he is very, very busy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks to Anheddau he leads a completely meaningful life, we have an excellent relationship with them.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the staff have changed over the years and some have stayed – and they are all marvellous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura said she had fears over how well John would be cared for if Anheddau\u2019s funding crisis meant the charity could no longer look after him.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI worry that the care that John would receive wouldn\u2019t be anywhere near the quality that it is now.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that Anheddau provides exceptional training and ongoing training for their staff which other care companies don\u2019t provide.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is reflected in the type of care they provide and also the quality of the care.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn doesn\u2019t really have a fit with his epilepsy now because he is so well cared for.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe hardly ever has a seizure which is a reflection again on how happy and how well cared for he is.\u201d<\/p>\n
The family feel so strongly about the survival of Anheddau that John\u2019s older sister Rebecca has launched a petition on the Welsh Parliament\u2019s website.<\/p>\n