42 People Out Of 554 Families Agreed For Bristol Autism Project Fee
Just 42 people responded positively to survey asking questions about moving a free holiday activity service to a paid membership system.
The Bristol Autism Project (BAP), has always been a council funded service. For many years, it provided free short break holiday activities for the city’s autistic children and young people, allowing them to experience activities in a space just for their needs.
Now, the charity who runs the project – Foundation For Active Community Engagement (FACE) – has moved this to a paid membership system.
This change has been based on the positive support of just 42 people from 554 families.
Families will now have to pay £39 per year, although there is no guarantee they will get places on activities or what activities may be on offer.
Bristol City Council has tried to axe the project before, with a parent-led petition in 2015 successfully reversing the council’s decision.
In 2019, the council commissioned FACE to take over the running of the provision.
Early this year, FACE and Bristol City Council say an engagement survey was sent out and advertised on social media.
Some BAP members have told us they have not seen or received a survey by email. Others have said they are not on the closed Facebook Page where the survey is likely to have been advertised.
One parent told us they’d ‘seen no such survey’ and that they wouldn’t be joining the scheme.
When asked why they said “It’s all getting too much. Forms all the time. Forms for everything. I feel like an administrator. Then everything is so expensive on top. It’s another thing to worry about.”
Bristol City Council said that 63 people had taken part in the FACE survey. Of those, 42 people were supportive of bringing in a charge. Another 7 said they weren’t supportive due to the ‘cost of living’. A further 7 suggested an ‘alternative contribution system’ and 7 more didn’t give a response to the question.
The project has grown from 175 autistic children in 2019 to 631 across 554 families in 2023.
Criteria for the service is not limited to those with a diagnosis. It is also open to those going through the diagnostic process and those with Social and Communication Interaction Needs. Children and young people who live in a different local authority but attend a Bristol school are also eligible to use the service. All siblings of children are allowed to attend activities as well.
Bristol City Council says that there is an ‘exemption’ for families who ‘feel unable to pay’. The fee may also be paid in monthly instalments. Although has not explained how it will ensure it reaches the large number of families who did not take part in the initial survey.
Bristol City Council said that an Equality Impact Assessment would have been ‘helpful at an earlier stage’ and that ‘the provider is in agreement that they will not implement any charge until this is in place and any issues raised through the EQIA are fully considered.’
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