After years of working for free, Down's syndrome man must PAY to wash councillors' dishes



A Down's syndrome man and Special Olympics champion who has been working for free for years is now being charged a fee to wash councillors' dishes.

Virgil Taylor has been helping to wash up, wipe tables and set up trolleys in a restaurant used by town hall staff for 17 years as part of subsidised adult care services.

Every week Mr Taylor - who won a gold medal at the Special Olympics in Glasgow in 2005 - has attended 10 sessions run by the William Knowles Centre in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.

But now savage cuts have ended the subsidies and the 34-year-old will have to pay £2.50 per session for the 'privilege' of cleaning up after councillors.

Shocked: Virgil and his mother Joan with the council letter announcing the new fees. Below: Mr Taylor with his Special Olympics medal

His outraged mother Joan, of Winscombe, said: 'Virgil does not get paid for his time at the Town Hall. But I would never stop him going as it makes him feel useful and he is so proud when he puts his uniform on.

'He does this for nothing but he loves it and that is the most important thing.

'How and why should he pay? The £2.50 per session will really eat into his savings.'

The family heard about the new fees in a letter from the council three weeks ago, she said, adding: 'Other parents and I have been given less than a month's notice.'

Mr Taylor will even be charged for non-attendance, his mother said.

'I couldn't believe it. It just left me shocked and confused.'

The mother-of-six has now written to Weston MP John Penrose to protest.

Mrs Taylor said: 'I save the Government a lot of money keeping him with me and I would not have it any other way.

'I am an honest person and the underhanded way we have been treated sickens me.

'Those at the council should hang their heads in shame.'

Cllr Ian Peddlesden, North Somerset Council's executive member for community services, adult services and housing, said: 'I believe most people receive other allowances that would cover these charges.

'The introduction of the fees was the result of the review we carried out after we won the elections last May.

'They pay for transport and also lunch if care service users spend whole days at sessions.

'This is the first complaint I have received about this.'

A council spokesman added: 'A non-attendance charge will only be applied for repeated failure to attend. It will not apply for planned absences.'