CHARITIES are demanding the council looks again at cuts to their funding which they say could plunge some disabled people into “extreme poverty”.

Five groups have “called in” a decision by senior Harrow councillors to axe cash for a series of projects, with a range of projects aimed at a wide variety of residents on the line.

If the move is successful the Labour cabinet will have to take its decision on a programme of grants to the voluntary sector again, although they will be able to reject the criticisms and confirm the original result.

Harrow Shop Mobility has 22 volunteers working with disabled people but needs money to hire just one manager and pay its insurance.

If its grant is axed as planned the organisation will cease exist.

Helen Dashwood, the group's manager, She said: “This can’t just disappear as it is vital for many people who want to live independent lives. The problem the council will face is people will want to use this service and will actually call them for a solution.

“It’s what we’ve described as a human rights challenge in our paperwork to the council. People deserve the right to use this service.”

She said the organisation was not officially notified of the council's decision but found out through the Harrow Times.

Since then it has collected more than 500 signatures in support from people in the Harrow area with another 150 from elsewhere.

Harrow Association of Disabled People (HAD) lost funding for a project to help its users apply for benefits.

Angela Dias, the group's chief executive, said: “A whole world of people who really struggle will be driven to really very extreme poverty and I'm talking about a lot of people who for so many different reasons need help to make this type of application.”

HAD called in the funding decision through a joint letter with Harrow Mencap, Flash Musicals, a youth theatre project, and Harrow in Europe, which runs the borough's twinning arrangement with the French town Douai.

The document states: “As a group of organisations which have received funding from the Grants Unit for some years, we are very concerned at the proposed removal of funding for our services, and have been advised that it is likely that to do so is a breach under the Equality Act 2010.”

Councillor Bill Stephenson, leader of Harrow Council, said charities do an “often unsung but vital job” but said the authority had received 131 applications for funding totalling £2.3m with a budget for grants of less than £700,000.

He said the assessment of applications was “rigorous” and added: “Cabinet agreed to award funding this year to the 31 organisations that most closely matched the council’s grants criteria and demonstrated that they would provide the widest benefit to their communities.

“This decision is open to appeal as part of the democratic process and we have received two call- ins.

“A meeting has been arranged for May 4, so unfortunately we will not be able to advise organisations of the final outcome of their application until after then.

“We have written to advise them of this. We have written to every group involved advising them of the delay.”