Protest march over threat to Handsworth care home

Nov 30 2009 by Rebekah Oruye, Birmingham Mail

SUPPORTERS of a Birmingham care home facing closure demonstrated their anger by holding a protest march.

Staff and supporters of Edwin Arrowsmith House, in Handsworth, stepped out on Saturday for the 20-minute walk armed with banners and posters demanding the home is kept open.

It is due to shut in February as one of 29 homes being closed by the council.

But both workers and residents say there is nowhere better for them to go.

Wheelchair-bound Louise Lewis has lived at the home for 12 years. The 88-year-old said she was “almost in tears” when she heard she could be moved to a different centre.

“We all love it here. The staff are lovely, you could not ask for better carers,” she said.

Iris Farmer, aged 82, said all of her close relatives and friends had died in the past few years.

She said: “I don’t want to go. The care workers, managers and even domestic helpers are like a family to us.”

Colin Mitchell took part in the march because he said the residential home was “vital” for his mum Aletha Campbell, aged 76, who has dementia.

“She knows the people well and they look after her well. She needs that stability,” he said.

Mary Campbell has worked at the home for 17 years. She said staff had been told they would all lose their jobs once the home was taken over.

The care assistant said many of the workers had only stayed in their jobs to “support the residents” after the council-run home announced its first phase of changes.

“We’ve just been offered a few jobs to calm us down,” she said.

“One offered to me was only part-time, whereas here I work full time.”

Stewart Preeble is a member of the Canon Street Memorial Baptist Church in nearby Canon Street.

He said: “It’s a really valuable local community asset.”

Graham Horn, from the union Unison, said: “I don’t think people of Birmingham are fully aware of what is happening and how many of our older adults are having to depart out of their homes. It’s absolutely shocking.”

A council spokesman said the closure was part of a process to improve the standard of care in the city.

She said 180 staff will be made redundant but could not say which homes they would be from.

A meeting is due to be held in two weeks between staff at Edwin Arrowsmith and council representatives.