Castle Point Council set to approve grant for family of disabled child

Castle Point: The council is stepping up to help a family in need. They got a request for funding from an occupational therapist who’s been working with a disabled child. The therapist pointed out some serious challenges the child faces at home, like getting in and out of the house and using the bathroom, which is upstairs.

To make things easier, the therapist suggested building a ground floor extension. This would give the child better access to a bedroom and bathroom, plus a new ramp to get in and out of the house safely.

The council is looking at grants for disabled facilities. The therapist believes these changes are crucial for the child to live safely and independently at home.

However, the estimated cost for these changes is over the £30,000 limit, so they’re asking for an extra grant to cover the difference.

The council thinks these improvements are necessary and practical, given the age and condition of the home. They also noted that if the funding doesn’t go through, the child’s health and safety could be at risk due to the ongoing issues with accessing proper washing and bathing facilities.

Out of three quotes for the work, the lowest came in at £115,425.24. The council is legally required to approve grants up to £30,000 if the application meets the criteria.

They plan to finalize the funding at a meeting on January 22. The family has managed to gather £62,000 through loans and charity, but they still need an extra £23,425.24 after the mandatory grant.

To cover any unexpected costs, the council recommends approving up to £30,000. This would leave a contingency of about £6,574.76, which is about 21.92 percent of the total.

Overall, the council believes these changes are essential for the child’s needs and safety. If they don’t get the extra funding, it could really impact the child’s ability to access necessary facilities.