First Surrey, now Coventry For Shame! :"We earn £3 a day - and we're going to lose that"

By Dayle Crutchlow


PEOPLE with learning disabilities working at a Coventry-based recycling charity are furious over a decision to strip them of their £3-a-day earnings.

John Gatter, Rachel Wells and Andrew Farrington work several days a week at Crow Recycling, in Sparkbrook Street, Hillfields.

And for their efforts, they have been receiving a £3 daily allowance from Coventry City Council.

The Coventry Telegraph reported last week how councillors had voted to scrap that to save money - but the workers say they are being treated unfairly.

Rachel Wells, aged 28, from Bell Green, said: "I'm not happy. I work hard here and I deserve that money."


John Gatter, aged 59, from Chester Street, in Coundon, said: "I think they should still pay us the money.

"People working in factories wouldn't stand for it so why should we? We are more vulnerable."

The workers will also lose their subsidised lunches - council bosses say this will encourage 'independent living'.

John Bolton, director of adult services for the city council, said the cuts were necessary to plug a £2.2million shortfall on next year's budget in learning disabilities.

But centre manager Barbara Cowling described the money it cost to pay Crow Recycling's five placements as "peanuts" and said letters of protest had been sent to all 54 city councillors.

The plans still need to go to full council on December 12.