Kintbury care home saved following UNISON campaign

Commenting on West Berkshire Council’s decision not to close Notrees Care Home in Kintbury, UNISON West Berkshire branch campaign organiser Callum Harling said:

“Staff, care home residents and their families are celebrating their successful campaign to save Notrees.

“The council was wrong to propose closing this essential and much-loved local service. Everyone is glad councillors have listened and changed course.

“It means that 18 people with specialist needs still have a home. Staff at Notrees are also relieved they don’t have to start searching for new jobs.

“This is a victory for common sense and shows what can be achieved when staff, local residents and unions work together.

“UNISON will continue campaigning to save care homes and fight to protect local services whenever they’re threatened with closure.”

Notes to editors:
– Notrees Care Home has space to accommodate 18 residents who need support with daily living and need care at night. It is also able to care for those with early stage dementia.
– Over 600 people signed a UNISON-backed petition calling on the council to reconsider its proposal to close the facility. Over 100 people responded to the council’s consultation on their proposed closure, many citing the potential impact on the local community and disruption to residents. Information on the council’s consultation is available here.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.