Who made the payment decision

3:40pm Tuesday 1st April 2008

REGARDING the article about charges for attending Where Next in the March 26 edition, my son also attends Where Next to work.

He doesn't go there to be minded or to be taken care of. He works within the limits of his disability.

Where Next is a safe environment and so it should be, like any work place. That's why there is a Health and Safety Act.

Where Next is run along the lines of a workplace, signing in and out, designated times for breaks and the products are sold for profit. There are many helpers, some voluntary and some employed but as your article back in September 2005 stated - "displays of plants and furniture all grown or produced by the trainees".

If there were no trainees then it would be like any other garden centre. The idea of Where Next began to help people with learning disabilities feel useful, allowing them to use whatever ability they have.

Now it seems they have to pay for that privilege.

I do wonder if perhaps Social Services give funding to Where Next and because of this the trainees are charged.

All trainees are assessed (means tested). I wonder who in authority devised this? Who felt competent and comfortable enough to judge a lifetime of disability and its awarded pension or allowance against the right and need to work, and decided that if those with disabilities want to work they must pay? Why should they? Do you?

Margaret A Redmond

Redditch

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