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EDCM urges councils to pledge cash for respite care

2 mins read Health
Members of the Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) campaign group are to contact local authorities across the country asking for guaranteed spending on respite care, after the case of Riven Vincent highlighted the plight of families struggling to look after children with complex needs.

"I called my social worker to tell her I wanted to start looking for a full-time residential care home for my six-year-old daughter, Celyn, who has severe quadriplegic cerebral palsy and epilepsy," Vincent explained.

"I’d just received a letter from social services saying there was no chance of any more than the six hours respite care we receive currently."

Following intense media reaction to the case, the Prime Minister David Cameron wrote to Vincent promising her help.

But Christine Lenehan, EDCM board member and director of the Council for Disabled Children, argued that many more families also need assistance.

"We are confident that Riven’s case will now be addressed as a matter of priority, and we very much hope a solution will be reached which meets her family’s needs," she said.

"However, we want to make sure that all the families in the country that are quietly despairing because they can’t get short breaks have their issues addressed as a matter of priority — before they reach breaking point."

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