Somerset Council reverses young carers support cuts

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 13:02 · Archive

Somerset Council has reversed planned cuts to young carers' support after public backlash.

Somerset Council has reversed planned cuts to support for young carers following a considerable backlash from local residents. The council's executive committee considered the savings proposals on 7 October as it prepares to set its next annual budget in February 2027, which will be the last before local elections in May. The proposals included removing support for young carers' clubs and support for young carers in schools, which would have saved the authority £185,000.

Numerous members of the public submitted objections to the cuts before the committee met at the council's Taunton headquarters. Council leader Bill Revans intervened to stop the plans, and the saving proposal has now been removed from the budget. This means the council will need to make cuts in other parts of its revenue budget instead.

One parent, Zoe Costello, whose two children attend young carers groups run by YMCA Brunel Group, said the support was 'a vital, integrated lifeline' rather than 'a luxury or a recreational extra'. She expressed concern that dismantling the groups would 'break a vital operational link, reducing meaningful assessments to stressful, unfamiliar home visits'.

How it is being reported

• Somerset Council U-turns on planned cuts to young carersSomerset Council leader Bill Revans intervened to stop plans to save £185,000 from next year's budget by cutting support for young carersBridgwater Mercury · 15 Oct, 12:00
• Somerset Council U-turns on planned cuts to young carersSomerset Council leader Bill Revans intervened to stop plans to save £185,000 from next year's budget by cutting support for young carersSomerset County Gazette · 15 Oct, 12:00

In this story: Somerset Council · Bill Revans · YMCA Brunel Group · Zoe Costello · Somerset

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