[WiLT] Service users win court victory in Birmingham

[WiL Admin]

Service users win court victory in Birmingham



Birmingham City Council has extended the grants of a number of
voluntary organisations in the city after a successful legal challenge
to its commissioning process.



Funding of the charities was due to end on 31 March, but seven clients
of Omnicare Community Care, which provides support and shelter for
black people with mental health problems, sought a judicial review of
the funding decisions.



They argued that the council had not consulted service users about the
impact of ending its funding to Omnicare, and had not carried out a
Race Equality Impact Assessment.



The grants have now been extended by six months to give the council
time to review all applications.



A Birmingham City Council statement said its selection process had
been extensive and transparent and aimed to provide a more consistent
way of funding organisations: "The third sector is a crucial partner
in delivering high-quality care to adults in Birmingham and we regret
any inconvenience caused."



http://ecm.hbpl.co.uk/re?l=ew01v5I450l1k5I11