STROKE victims face losing a vital support service after council chiefs withdrew its funding.

Hampshire Stroke Association, which runs six centres across the county, has been told it will lose its £60,000 grant from April next year.

It is the second blow to health groups in two days after the Daily Echo revealed yesterday that Southampton’s Active Options fitness scheme was being axed.

That initiative, which helped more than 12,500 city residents adopt a healthier lifestyle, was axed after 15 years in a bid to save the city council up to £60,000.

Now Hampshire County Council has swung the axe on the Stroke Association’s communication support services which run in Hordle, Ringwood, Fareham, Petersfield, Paulsgrove and Farnborough, The service provides weekly support groups and home visits to stroke sufferers with communication difficulties. It also gives survivors the chance to meet, share experiences and help one another through recovery.

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Three of those branches – Hordle, Ringwood and Petersfield – face certain closure if they cannot find alternative funding, charity chiefs have said.

Around 2,890 Hampshire people have a stroke each year.

Approximately 600 are left with a communication difficulty. The Stroke Association’s communication support services helped 123 people last year alone.

Katherine Staley, regional manager for the Stroke Association said: “We are distressed and greatly disappointed by this news. If we are forced to close three of these services and reduce the support given by the others, it will create a substantial gap.”

Hampshire County Council says it is merely passing on the cut from the Government.

Councillor Felicity Hindson, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for adult social care, said: “The national stroke grant from the Government comes to an end at the end of March 2011.

Measures taken by the coalition government in order to reduce the national deficit are likely to mean that no more funding will be made available for this. People who are eligible to use our services will still be able to access any services which do meet their needs by using their personal budgets.”

However service users feel they need the extra support of their communication groups.

Alan Mead, 71, a retired printer and member of the Hordle group said: “My speech and language therapist helps me a lot but I am only able to see her every three to four months so it’s really important that I take the chance to practice in between sessions. I feel that my speech and ability to cope is getting better but it’s a long and daunting road. I would feel lost without this additional support.”

We'd be lost without our support group

MARY Johnson, a 61-year-old retired teacher from Lymington, has been a member of the Hordle communication support group for two years.

She suffered a stroke four years ago and lost movement in the right hand side of her body. Her speech was affected too.

Since she joined the group her speech has improved, her confidence has grown and she has started to get her life and independence back.

“I started going to the support group two years ago,” said Mary who is pictured left with husband Ted.

“The group gives us the chance to talk to each other. We all have a worksheet with conversation topics – usually news stories, politics, religion and current affairs. We sit in small groups of three or four and have a volunteer to help us if we get into difficulty. It helps keep us up to date with the world.

“There are 20-25 survivors in the group, each with their own volunteer providing help and support. The volunteers are excellent, they even bring people to the groups who don’t have cars. It will be a shame if the group closes because it really helps some of the survivors to get out – especially if they don’t have a partner at home to help them.”

“I and the other survivors look forward to the group each week. Without it we would be lost and isolated.”

Ted added: “Mary’s stroke affects both of us. The group is great because I can take her there each week and know she is safe and with friends. It gives me respite and some time to myself.”