FAMILES of disabled children attending a Barry care centre have begun a campaign against spending cuts, after their respite allocation was reduced.

Parents have established a social networking group and online petition in a bid to get the Vale Council to overturn the limits it has made on the care nights available to children suffering from autism, cerebral palsy and other conditions, at the Ty Robin Goch centre, in Robins Lane.

And they want public support in sending letters to Vale MP Alun Cairns and Cardiff South and Penarth MP Alun Michael, joining their Facebook campaign, signing their petition and standing with them in protest outside the Civic Offices next month (November 25).

The Vale Council financed centre, run by Action for Children and the only such facility in the Vale, offers respite care for up to three nights a month, but parents have been informed this will go down to two with further cuts possible.

Tina Johnson, of Barry, said her 13-year-old autistic and epileptic son Wesley had enjoyed staying at the centre three nights a month.

The 48-year-old mum-of-two said: "It’s a break for the rest of the family and a break for him.

"They take them out and do activities for the children.

"We were told that’s it – it wasn’t talked about or reviewed. We weren’t even asked.

"It’s the most vulnerable children they seem to have picked on," she added.

"The respite gives us a chance to be a normal family."

Single mum Angela Thomas, 35, of Dinas Powys, said her 12-year-old autistic daughter Romana also benefited from spending time at the centre.

She said: "If they take this away there are going to be lots of families unable to cope.

"They are targeting the poor and vulnerable."

Mum-of-four Nicola Moore said she was unhappy that the service available for her 15-year-old son Michael, who suffers from cerebral palsy, had been reduced.

The 36-year-old, of Penarth, said: "I have a six-week-old baby and it’s hard juggling them all.

"The only break I get is when Mikey comes for respite."

Vale Council head of children and young people’s services, Gareth Jenkins said the department was required to make savings in the last two financial year - which had been made by restructuring staff, resulting in a loss of posts, and reducing budget allocations for all commissioned services in the Vale, including Ty Robin Goch.

He added increased demand on the service meant reviewing support packages to ensure all assessed families had an equal share of available resources.

He said: "The actual reduction at Ty Robin Goch is closure of the service on three weekday evenings/nights during school term time only for the remainder of this financial year.

"This ensures the service is fully operational over weekends and throughout school holiday periods.

"Existing service users have seen a reduction in the level of support offered by an average of one night per month.

"Whilst disabled children meet the statutory criteria as ‘children in need’, there is no legal requirement on the Council to provide short breaks services.

"The Council is only expected to provide services within available resources."

To join the social networking group and sign the petition, search for Save Ty Robin on Facebook.

The protest, outside the Civic Offices in Barry, takes place on Thursday, November 25.