News - Disabled yoga service to close

Yoga sessions for people with disabilities have been closed after funding for the service was cut.

Yoga Mobility based at Rookwood Hospital in Cardiff had been offering the service for the past 30 years.

It is thought to be the only service of its kind in Wales, but Cardiff Council has cut the group’s subsidy forcing its closure.

The council has said it had had to make “difficult choices” but was keeping the situation under review.

Many of the members… feel disabled again. Mary Madhavi, tutor

But members of the group have said that the closure of the facility has caused a great deal of concern.

And they said the cost of running the classes was very low as the hall used was rent free and the equipment paid for through their own
fundraising.

Organisers estimated it costs roughly 9,900 a year for the sessions to be held three times a week.

Mary Madhavi who runs the classes said that members were very upset by the cuts.

“It has become a pivotal focus point for many of the members and they are very distressed about the service being stopped,” she added.

“Many of the members feel discriminated against by having the service cut and they feel disabled again.

Mirat Lari has attended the classes for 16 years

“The cost of running the group is the wages of the two tutors and a bit of taxi money - it’s nothing,” she said.

Ms Madhavi formed the classes 30 years ago and 60 people were attending the sessions.

They catered for people with a range of disabilities and illnesses including Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and arthritis as well as people who had suffered physical injuries and people with learning disabilities.

The service has been cut from three days a week to one, but will close for good in December.

Mirat Lari, 31 who has cerebral palsy said that she was upset that the class was being closed.

Members of the group plan to fight the closure

“I’ve been coming here for 16 years and it has been a big support to me,” she said.

“I don’t want to lose the classes, I’ve got friends here.

“What is going to happen to us?”

Her comments were supported by other members of the group.

“We feel discriminated against because this is the only class for disabled people and is the safest environment for us, yet it is our class which is being lost,” said Jude Bryant Plenty.

Collett Sweet, who has multiple sclerosis said she felt sad at what was happening.

“Before I came here I was a mess but it has really helped me to get where I am now,” she added.

And Vic Gobbett said he was disappointed with the council’s decision.

“There is a real sense of camaraderie here and we can talk to people about our problems and they know what we are going through. You don’t get that anywhere else,” he said.

There have had to be some difficult choices with regard to our service provision Spokesman, Cardiff Council

Members of the Yoga Mobility group planned to hold a protest at Cardiff Council offices later this month.

“I just don’t know what I am going to do without the class,” said member Sue Smith.

A spokesman for Cardiff Council said that “As a result of the disappointing financial settlement from the Welsh assembly, allied to the funding allocation from ELWa not keeping pace with inflation, there have had to be some difficult choices with regard to our service provision.

“Changes had to be made.

“We have tried wherever possible to minimise the effect by retaining services across the board rather than stop them altogether.

“A range of services have been retained at Rookwood.

“In terms of yoga, 19 courses remain available across the city.

“At present one term of sessions has been retained at Rookwood even though historically these courses have not been viable due to low uptake.

“We continue to seek alternative sources of funding and will keep the situation under review,” he added.

Original article News - Disabled yoga service to close
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