A CHARITY which supports adults with learning disabilities will need an extra £346,000 from April after National Insurance and the minimum wage were increased by the Government.
Acorn Village, in Clacton Road, Mistley, supports adults with learning disabilities and celebrates its 50th anniversary next year.
Acorn provides residential and supported living schemes on its 14-acre site for up to 53 adults with learning disabilities.
Day services are also available to adults with learning disabilities living in the wider community.
It is also one of the largest employers in the Tendring area with 178 staff.
The charity estimates the hike in employer NI payments and wages will cost it almost £350,000 a year.
“We back calls led by Care England and other national care associations for social care settings to be exempt from the employer NI rise and for the Government to hear our very real concerns for the future of social care.
“We are really concerned about the impact the additional NI cost will have on our charity and services.
"Unlike many industries we cannot simply increase our costs and we do not want to decrease our services.
"This does not take into account any additional costs due to rising prices or necessary planned works. As much of our income is reliant on local authorities, we will need this to be compensated in their 2025/26 fees and we await to hear their decisions about this.
Ms Cook and chair of trustees John Whittaker have written to MPs and the Government to urge the Chancellor to rethink the decision.
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