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Rural drug funding cuts opposed by support group Rural drug support future funding cuts denied
(about 3 hours later)
Money to help drug users in parts of rural Wales is being cut by up to a third in a new Welsh government funding formula, a support charity has warned. Fears that money to help drug users in parts of rural Wales could face a future cut of up to a fifth have been denied by the Welsh government.
Kaleidoscope says reallocating funds to cities could lead to a hidden problem in rural areas. Drugs charity Kaleidoscope feared that some areas could face cuts with funds reallocated to cities.
The Welsh government said location was not a factor in its funding changes, which were "evidence based". The Welsh government said no area would receive a reduction of more than 5% this year and there were no plans for future cuts.
It also said location was not a factor and funding was "evidence based".
Kaleidoscope, which provides support to people with drug and alcohol problems, says the changes in the way money is allocated in Wales could lead to a hidden drug problem without the services to deal with it.
The substance misuse budget has risen overall by £400,000 but it will be shared differently across the country.The substance misuse budget has risen overall by £400,000 but it will be shared differently across the country.
Services are divided into seven areas of Wales, each with a planning board to commission services.Services are divided into seven areas of Wales, each with a planning board to commission services.
Those facing a reduction have a 5% maximum cut for this coming year but the charity is worried about funding over the next four years. Four areas will have their funding cut while the remaining three will have their budgets increased.
Four areas will have their funding cut while the remaining three will have their budgets increased: Those facing a reduction have a 5% maximum cut for this coming year but the charity had also been worried about funding over the next four years.
But the Welsh government said figures showing projected cuts in some areas of up to 20% had been an earlier option and had been discounted.
A Welsh government spokesperson said: "We are pleased to clarify to Kaleidescope and other drugs support services, that there are no plans to cut funding by up to 20% over four years.
"Although that was among a range of options considered, in recognition of the valuable service being provided, the Welsh government chose to increase the overall amount available under the Substance Misuse Action Fund.
"This mitigates the effects of the new distribution formula to ensure no area would receive a reduction of more than 5%, and partner agencies were informed of this in October 2012.
"There are no plans for further reductions in future years."
Kaleidoscope, which provides support to people with drug and alcohol problems, says the changes in the way money is allocated in Wales could lead to a hidden drug problem without the services to deal with it.Kaleidoscope, which provides support to people with drug and alcohol problems, says the changes in the way money is allocated in Wales could lead to a hidden drug problem without the services to deal with it.
'Public scandal' 'Largely rural'
Chief executive Martin Blakebrough said: "I would say to the Welsh government that they have to take rural communities seriously and the way that this funding formula has been devised is a damning indictment of a government who doesn't care about the heart of its country."Chief executive Martin Blakebrough said: "I would say to the Welsh government that they have to take rural communities seriously and the way that this funding formula has been devised is a damning indictment of a government who doesn't care about the heart of its country."
He said that rural services are more expensive to run but money is being taken from those areas and given to cities.He said that rural services are more expensive to run but money is being taken from those areas and given to cities.
"They've decided to give 10% extra to the most expensive service in Wales - which is in Cardiff - and get that money from areas like Monmouthshire (part of Gwent Area Planning Board) and Powys. Earlier, Melanie Perry, director of mid and west Wales alcohol and drugs advisory service Prism, said: "I know locally the area planning board has sought to protect frontline services for this year, so where we have seen cuts they have been small, but we don't know how that's going to pan out for 2014 onwards.
"That seems to me that people in rural areas are being ignored and I think it's a public scandal.
"Where is the equality?"
Melanie Perry, director of mid and west Wales alcohol and drugs advisory service Prism, said: "I know locally the area planning board has sought to protect frontline services for this year, so where we have seen cuts they have been small, but we don't know how that's going to pan out for 2014 onwards.
"People in rural areas do have drug and alcohol problems and we see that moving down the M4 corridor and where people have those problems, they need to seek specialist help and support to address those issues.""People in rural areas do have drug and alcohol problems and we see that moving down the M4 corridor and where people have those problems, they need to seek specialist help and support to address those issues."
Ifor Glyn, chief executive of Swansea-based drugs charity Sands Cymru, said any drug agency would say there were not enough resources. In an earlier statement, the Welsh government said while it understands that substance misuse is not confined to urban areas, the new funding formula is "evidence based and takes rural areas into account through indicators on access to services locally" among other factors.
"In Swansea, there is a need and enough people demanding the service," he said.
"But running services in rural areas come with additional problems - things like transport, having to maintain more than one office.
"We do need to look at the needs of both rural and making cuts anywhere is never going to be acceptable or palatable."
In a statement, the Welsh government said while it understands that substance misuse is not confined to urban areas, the new funding formula is "evidence based and takes rural areas into account through indicators on access to services locally" among other factors.
"North Wales, which is largely rural, received a substantial increase in its share of the formula; emphasising that rurality was not a major factor in changes to the formula," said a spokesperson."North Wales, which is largely rural, received a substantial increase in its share of the formula; emphasising that rurality was not a major factor in changes to the formula," said a spokesperson.
"In addition, the Welsh government has increased the overall amount allocated to area planning boards by £400,000 to ensure that no area planning board received more than a 5% cut to their allocation.""In addition, the Welsh government has increased the overall amount allocated to area planning boards by £400,000 to ensure that no area planning board received more than a 5% cut to their allocation."