York Inspirational Kids charity facing uncertain future due to funding cuts

BBC News

3 days ago

For Leah Kilvington, her weekly session with York Inspirational Kids' post-16 group is about more than the activities she and her friends take part in."It's about accepting people for who they are," the 25-year-old tells me.Lilly Phillips says attending the sessions puts a smile on her face."I like coming here because they do fun activities and they make you laugh every time," the 19-year-old explains with a broad grin.But bosses at the support group for young people with disabilities or additional needs strike a different tone, warning that the charity could cut sessions or activities unless it can attract greater funding.Chief Executive Ruth Thompson says York Inspirational Kids needs to raise an extra £25,000 to keep services going for the 3,000 families it supports.If not, it could face a bleak future after 14 years of existence."We're in a situation where there are more and more diagnoses, particularly of autism, so the need is greater," she explains.
"We are in a situation where finances have been cut, there isn't enough money going into local authorities to help support, there isn't enough money within charities, so the criteria for funding is getting tighter and tighter and tighter."The charity supports a wide range of young people, from children to young adults, all of whom have a disability and/or special educational need.The post-16 group is focused on developing social skills and independence in a safe environment, with staff on hand to help.The young people play cards, table football and air hockey - and handle the running of their own tuck shop.A recent trip to the Houses of Parliament to see democracy in action was one of the supervised excursions provided by the charity, along with trips to the cinema and tenpin bowling."Instead of roaming down the streets and getting into trouble, I can come here and enjoy myself," says Kai Embleton, 20.
"It's the social high point of her week," says Sarah Smith of her daughter Eleanor, 23. "I don't know what we would do without it. It's not just for the kids, it's for the mums and dads as well, so we can meet up and discuss what's going on in their lives."Tanya Berasnevich says the experiences her daughter Masha takes part in help boost her confidence and social skills."It's the highlight of her week, she really loves it. She feels safe and relaxed. "She was very shy but then she started coming out of her shell and joining activities and now she talks a lot at home after the session."The charity receives some funding from the City of York Council and some from the National Lottery, but has to raise the rest itself.
"All the funding we try to go for, there's a lot of competition," says Ms Thompson."We are out and about all the time, bucket collecting in supermarkets, we do coffee mornings and all kinds of fundraising, as much as we can, but we're only a really small organisation."Our young people speak for themselves, they get so much out of it and it would be absolutely awful to have to start making cuts."City of York Council's Maxine Squire says reduced public sector budgets and the increasing costs of support services were increasing pressure on the voluntary sector across the country.She told the BBC that the council continues to support York Inspirational Kids "both financially and in developing a sustainable operating model for the future."The Treasury has been approached for comment.
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