Sense Scotland announces service closure

Sense Scotland has announced it is to close its Newark Drive service as demand has “dropped markedly.”

The facility in Glasgow’s south-side offered support and overnight care for youngsters with severe disabilities, giving parents and carers vital respite.

John Roxburgh, head of operational services at Sense Scotland, said: “It is with regret that we have taken the difficult decision to close the respite service at Newark Drive in Glasgow.

“Demand for the service has dropped markedly and it is simply unaffordable to keep it open beyond March 2015.

“Sense Scotland has additional services available and we will work closely with families and appropriate local authorities over the next 2-3 months to put alternative arrangements in place.

“We understand the concern of families and we will work hard to ensure this change has minimal impact on them.”

It is understood the reduction in referrals to the service come from widespread funding cuts to social work budgets across a number of local authorities.

Many parents can no longer afford to send their children to the service as their care budgets have been reduced.