Harrow Council Discretionary Freedom Pass consultation
Voluntary Action Harrow does not agree with Harrow Council’s proposal to stop issuing new Discretionary Freedom Passes to people with mental health conditions and the proposal to phase out existing Discretionary Freedom Passes for people with mental health conditions over five years. We call on the council to continue to provide this crucial lifeline in Harrow.
Discretionary freedom passes are lifelines for people with mental health conditions. They:
1) Reduce isolation by enabling human connection with others
2) Help to maintain independence by empowering individuals to be self-reliant
3) Ensure lifesaving journeys can be made; to a GP, pharmacy, day centre, therapist…
Without use of a discretionary freedom pass, isolation will increase and vital appointments may be missed, resulting in poorer mental and/or physical health outcomes. The consequences for the individual are severe and potentially life threatening. We call on the council to #keepthepasses and continue to provide this crucial lifeline for people with mental health conditions in Harrow!
Our response
Read our full response to the Council’s proposals.
Consultation closed
The consultation has now closed. We await news from the council about when they plan to make a decision and will respond accordingly at that time.
Support
If you are looking for mental health support please take a look at our Harrow Mental Health Support Directory.