No surprise at Local Authorities’ budget deficit, says Hft

LEARNING disability charity Hft has responded with shock to new figures unearthed by the BBC, which report that Local Authorities will see £467m stripped from their adult care services by April 2026.

Hft’s CEO, Kirsty Matthews said:

“It’s disheartening to read the findings from the BBC investigation which reveal a huge ‘black hole’ in Local Authority funding, but not unexpected.

“This revelation simply makes the effort to balance the books for social care even more difficult.

“Hft’s Sector Pulse Check report (published in partnership with Care England) has, for consecutive years, illustrated the impact of Local Authority funding cuts on adult social care, with one-third of providers considering exiting the market in 2022 due to cost pressures. The BBC’s report unfortunately corroborates this research.

“It’s imperative that the Government fund Local Authorities properly, so care staff can be paid a fair wage, and everyone who needs high-quality support can receive it.

“We will continue our calls on the Government to take social care seriously and ensure this invaluable service can thrive rather than perpetually just survive.”