A poverty and disadvantage relief charity said it was “thrilled” after planned cuts to its council funding were dropped. 

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

The charity received £198,000 a year from Coventry City Council and proposed cuts would see that figure almost halved.

But Grapevine said it had been told by the council that the budget cuts would not go ahead.

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 the council had taken on board what the charity had said about the potential impact of the cuts.

“We are thrilled with the news that the proposed cut will not go ahead,” she said.

“We want to thank Coventry City Council for listening to our concerns, those of other professionals and, crucially, people and their families who would have been most affected by this cut.

“We acknowledge the council is in a difficult position, needing to make savings in order to deliver a balanced budget for the coming year. 

“But they have fully taken on board what we’ve said about the potential impact of this cut and made the right decision for everyone.”

Coventry City Council opened a consultation to the public at the end of last year to consult on proposed budget cuts.

If the cut had gone ahead, about £750,000 would have been taken out of the current £1.5m funding made available for the voluntary sector preventative support grant, affecting 12 voluntary sector organisations in Coventry including Grapevine.

The budget proposal was met with “strong opposition” from Grapevine and its service users, the charity said.

The charity’s service helps adults with learning disabilities and autistic people who are living independently but on the verge of coping.

Coventry City Council said a report on its budget plans recommended that fewer savings were needed than first feared.

“Councillors will hear that the local authority has received a better than expected funding package from the government and that, coupled with the council’s rigorous and careful approach to its financial planning, means not all of the cutbacks consulted on will be needed,” the council said.

“There will also be £2.2m of one-off investment to boost services covering highways, street cleansing, community safety and community events.”

Richard Brown, a Coventry councillor and cabinet member for finance and resources, said the council’s ongoing work had put it in a better financial position than many other local councils.

“I have always said that we should hope for the best but prepare for the worst and the settlement from the government is better than expected,” said Brown.

“We have always been very careful with our financial management, and ongoing work has put us in a better financial position than many other local councils.

“It means that many of the savings identified won’t be needed, which I’m really pleased about.”