DETERMINED campaigners are exploring "plan B" after a financial and support service for disabled people in Barrow missed out on a funding scheme for a second time.
The Disability Advice and Benefits Service missed out on five-year funding from the Big Lottery worth £361,246 last year and a redrafted submission of plans have been rejected again this year.
READ MORE: Campaigners make case for 'lifeline' Barrow disability support team
DABS, which is based at the Barrow & District Disability Association in School Street, Barrow, has already secured enough cash to stay open in 2017 from other sources and bodies, but is now facing the prospect of seeking alternative means of finance beyond that.
DABS was set up in 2011 with a five-year grant from the Big Lottery, and staff include two specialist advisers and administrators.
The hardworking team supports disabled people and their carers in securing grants, benefits and mobility aids, and many in the community see them as the best help to negate and understand changing welfare state rules.
Margaret Burrow MBE, chief executive of the Barrow & District Disability Association, said: "We had been formulating a plan B just in case. We are doing everything possible to secure it for a longer term.
"We continue to seek funding. We have done a lot in a very short space of time. Barrow needs this service.
"We work very, very closely with other advice agencies especially Citizens Advice Bureau. We don't work in competition."
Among the measures already taken by DABS include applications to the Sir John Fisher Foundation and Francis C Scott Trust, and securing £5,000 from the general provisions pot of Cumbria County Council Local Committee for Barrow, for example.
The team have also been busy fundraising themselves, hosting events including a concert, and putting on raffles in the town.
Mrs Burrow is encouraging the community to continue to sign a petition to pledge support to DABS - which will be useful information to present to funders and demonstrate the real need for the service.
Don't forget to sign our petition #savedabs Save Our Service Disability Advice & Benefit Service https://t.co/IYw2XoDV1s via @ipetitions
— BDDA (@TheBDDA) November 8, 2016
Estimates of the value of DABS show that almost £7,500,000 has been collectively secured for clients in successful benefit claims and acquisitions of mobility equipment since it began.
To sign the DABS petition, click here .
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