A poverty and disadvantage relief charity is set to lose almost £100,000 in funding for one of its programmes if proposed council budget cuts are confirmed.

Grapevine supports residents in Coventry and Warwickshire experiencing isolation, poverty and disadvantages.

The charity has called for residents to take part in a Coventry City Council consultation which was launched to get views on plans to tackle a £13m funding gap for 2025/26.

The council said its financial issues were largely due to pressures in social care and housing.

Grapevine launched its Help and Connect service seven years ago with support from council funding.

The service helps people with learning disabilities in Coventry who do not qualify for council support.

Grapevine has received £198,000 per year in council funding and the proposed budget cuts will see that figure decrease by 45 per cent.

The charity recorded an income of £1.2m according to its latest accounts for the year to the end of March 2023. The average monthly headcount at the charity was 34 in the same year. 

Clare Wightman, chief executive of Grapevine, said all the problems the charity helped to stop would be unchecked if the cuts were confirmed.

“Whether it’s Grapevine providing this support or some other charity, if the proposals go through there is going to be half as much money on the table to help this group of people,” she said.

“All of us are really worried. Exploitation, scamming, abuse, financial hardship, ill-health – all the things we help to stop, will carry on unchecked.

“And it won’t even save money, because when people fall into crisis and can’t cope, the council, housing, police, NHS end up stepping in anyway and it costs even more money to do that.”

The charity said its service users are adults who are living independently but on the verge of coping, with their carers often struggling too.

“We know people share our worry about resources potentially being taken away from people with learning disabilities, some of the most vulnerable in our city,” said Wightman.

“Almost 100 people joined us for our Coventry cuts online information briefing. We are also talking to Coventry councillors and helping others do the same.”

The council’s budget consultation will close on 28 January and Grapevine is asking for support by attending a consultation meeting, contacting councillors, signing its petition or joining its planned demonstration.

A Coventry City Council spokesperson said it was required by law to set a balanced budget.

“We are currently undergoing a consultation process with our residents on proposed savings across services and we are monitoring all the feedback we receive,” they said.

“We appreciate all the comments we are getting from residents and providers, and this feedback will help us set a balanced budget, which we need to do by law.

“We are also going through the details of the recent government settlement, and this will help inform our final budget position.

“No decisions will be made until after the consultation ends on 28 January, so we encourage everyone to have their say.”