A VALUABLE scheme helping special needs youngsters become more independent could be in jeopardy, after project organisers claim funding has been cut by the council.

The Lift Training Scheme, based at the National Star College in Cheltenham, is designed to help young people with special needs to travel independently either by bus or train, with the help of special travel trainers.

Gloucestershire County Council claims they have not cut the service but have instead expanded it.

However, Lift Training project manager Ian Clark disagrees and said the council has actually cut the number of project trainers by more than half.

The scheme has been used by young people with special needs all over the county, including 16-year-old Livvy Rogers from Lechlade who has become more confident and independent as a result.

“The scheme had been working well,” said Ian. “But in March the council decided they were not going to fund it in the same way. From September this year until March 2015 funding would be reduced.

“We had three travel trainers but funding meant we had to lose two. The scheme allows these young people to stay in education,” he added.

“It’s a real worry because if people can’t access education then they will be in the NEET (not in education, employment or training) group and that will have a really detrimental effect.”

Cabinet member for children and young people at GCC Cllr Paul McLain said the council sees the scheme as especially important and is in fact expanding it across the county.

“There have actually been no cuts to the budget this year at all,” he said. “Since September we’ve been piloting specialist teaching at other schools and colleges and we believe this will help develop independent travel and benefit a wider group of our county’s young people.

“We continue to support the National Star College’s Lift Project, funding 10 places for those students living along a direct bus route.”

Lechlade student Livvy Rogers, 16, has massively benefitted from the Lift Training Scheme. Her mother Sharon said it would be such a shame if the project was shut down.

“It’s absolutely brilliant. Livvy has a travel trainer who takes as much time as she needs. The trainer walks with her to the bus and gets on the bus with her,” said Sharon.

“It’s even given Livvy a qualification in travel,” she added. “Just thinking how much Livvy has got out of this; her confidence and self-esteem. It would be a pity if that was taken away. Independence is such a big advantage.”

Sharon believes the scheme, which sees the trainers shadow the young people as they work out how to use the bus timetable, work out the bus fare and travel to school, should be introduced to more young people. She believes it is a much cheaper option for the council than paying for a taxi every day, which is how Livvy used to get to college before being introduced to the scheme.

“If Livvy was going to go back in taxi it would cost them an absolute fortune. It would just be such a shame. Surely the scheme must pay for itself.”