Closure of HACS Rural Tea Rooms
The Rural Tea Rooms, run by the autism charity HACS near school and visited by our pupils, are due to close on Saturday 25th March.
The tea rooms have, up to now, received a grant from Hillingdon Council which last year was for £40,000. The council doesn't think this represents good value for Hillingdon residents. The grant helps HACS provide work experience for around 20 autistic people a year who would otherwise struggle to find such an opportunity.
The grant has been withdrawn, the tea rooms will close and Hillingdon Council recommends those people with additional needs losing employment support should "approach other providers or schemes to see what else might suit them best." Full details can be found in the minutes of the Cabinet meeting of Hillingdon Council from December 15 2022 on the Council's website.
For anyone who thinks Hillingdon Council's grant represents good value in providing employment opportunities for autistic people looking to join the workforce, and should be reinstated, www.change.org has a petition which can be found by searching for "HACS" on their site where you can express your opinion.
John Goodbody
Secretary, Friends of Meadow
