County Council Slashes Mudlarks Funding

Popular local charity Mudlarks faces closure after the County Council slashed funding for the organisation.

The Conservative controlled council have cut Mudlarks' grant by £66,000, leaving the charity garden with an unsustainable shortfall.

The charity currently supports 105 people with learning disabilities. They also work with local schools and offer work experience placements. A Summer Scheme enables another 15 young people with learning disabilities to attend the allotments site every week.

Over the last 10 years, Mudlarks have supported over 1000 people with learning disabilities, providing therapy, training and employment as well as a community centred on understanding and support.

Unlike the garden, the Mudlarks cafe in Railway Street is run as a social enterprise and receives no funding from Hertfordshire County Council. The cafe provides training and employment for adults with learning disabilities, and is funded by sales and charitable donations.

Hertford Music Festival's Kev Saunders presents Mudlarks Founder and Managing Director Vic Hobson with a donation.

Mudlarks director Victoria Hobson said: "It would be a disaster for Mudlarks to be forced to close as a result of county council cuts. The impact would be felt not just by our gardeners and cafe staff, but by all their family members. There would be nowhere else for people to go as the impact will be felt across the day service sector, and so people will be left to be cared for by family members or isolated in their homes".

Andrew Porrer, Liberal Democrat candidate for Kingsmead ward commented: "Again the local Tories show they know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Having Conservative control at all levels doesn't do our community any favours. The lack of opposition councillors mean decisions are not properly scrutinised."

Hertfordshire County Council issued a statement saying "We are currently engaging with community-based organisations looking at the way we provide services for adults with disabilities. As part of this process we set out some draft proposals and shared these with community organisations for comment and are considering feedback. Engagement is ongoing and we are especially keen to discuss and receive information from organisations about any potential impact these changes may have. 

“Mudlarks is not grant funded by Hertfordshire County Council but they are funded to support individuals that attend their service. They have concluded that one possible impact of our proposals is a reduction of funding. We will be meeting with Mudlarks in the next few weeks to discuss further. We are committed to understanding and reducing the impact of any change on individuals who are currently attending Mudlarks. We are sure Mudlarks will be part of our future ambition to support people to link and contribute to their communities.”

Updated to include comment from Liberal Democrat Andrew Porrer
Updated to include response from Hertfordshire County Council (2/5/19)