Protest planned outside adult day centre set to close by Birmingham City Council
The City Council have planned to close four site to save their finances
Last updated 28th Feb 2025
A protest will take place today (26th Feb) outside Harborne Day Centre to oppose it's closure as part of Birmingham City Council cuts to save their strapped finances.
Harborne Adult Day Centre is one of four set to close.
The other day centres affected are Beeches GOLDD, Fairway, and Heartlands. They will close their door for the last time on the 31st March.
Why are families protesting?
Jean Cross' brother, Robert Mason, has been attending Harborne Adult Day Centre for 43 years.
He is non-verbal and paralysed down one side. He also suffers with epilepsy and autism.
"The ones that are very autistic, will not manage the move at all"
She told us the protest today is to hold people in power responsible for closing down the day centres:
"Some of the service users do not understand what is happening, although they have had taster days.
"I have a voice for Robert and other ladies are sticking up for their children. There are quite a few, however, that do not have a voice.
"The ones that are very autistic, will not manage the move at all," she said.
What does Birmingham City Council say?
A spokesperson for the city council told us: "While no current users will lose their service, and their loved ones will not lose their respite support, we do recognise that attending a different centre could be a difficult transition for some and of course everyone has a right to make their voice heard.
"Many councils no longer run in-house day centres, so it is good we have still found the money to keep five going across the city. But we do need to save on costs and the remaining centres do need to be fully utilised.
"We know it is a difficult time for some but everyone is being fully supported to relocate to an alternative service of their choice in the city which are equipped to meet their physical, behavioural, sensory and emotional needs."