Campaigners on-song to save Wirral day care centres (From Wirral Globe)

Campaigners on-song to save Wirral day care centres

4:03pm Monday 25th February 2013 in News By Stephanie Cureton

Protestors outside the Town Hall ahead of last week's budget meeting. Picture: Paul Heaps

CAMPAIGNERS hoping to save Wirral's day centres have penned a song to take their fight to the next level.

Adult students who attend the borough’s three closure-threatened centres have joined forces to create 'Stand Together' in a bid to make councillors sit up and listen.

The song, which will be uploaded to You Tube this week, was put together as a way for the service users to have their say on the forthcoming changes.

It comes as Wirral Council prepares to close either Heswall, Moreton or Eastham day centres following massive budget cuts.

The ruling Labour administration last week agreed to shut down one to save £2m over the next three years, meaning students would be moved to a different centre.

However the proposals, which are set to be ratified by full council next week, caused uproar among those who use the centres as well as their family and friends.

And now the students have written the song to get their own message across.

Gemma McGreal, whose sister, Nicola, attends Moreton Day Centre, said: "Up until now, it has mainly been the relatives and carers fighting against these plans but the students then started asking what they can do to help.

"They decided to write a song themselves to express how they’re feeling about it all and to show that they do have a voice.

"We feel that the day centres and these vulnerable people are being targeted because people think they can’t speak up for themselves – but they can and they are.

"We are all determined to keep our campaign going and stand up to the council."

Among other budget proposals are a 2% council tax rise, five days unpaid leave for council staff and a reduction in street lighting.

If passed, the day centre changes would mean officers carrying out a 12-week consultation with service users before a final decision is made on which centre faces the axe.

But protestors say the change in routine would have a big impact on the students' well-being.

Gemma added: "Nicola keeps asking what will happen to her and where she will be going.

"The students who attend these day centres need routine and very often don’t like any changes to what they're used to.

"They have been left out of it completely and are hoping this song sends a message to the councillors who are making these huge decisions."