This is the saddest "cuts" story I've read to date.

[perfectstorm]

Those poor girls, and their poor babies. And in the general scheme of things the money is peanuts.

I know things are tough, but we're the 4th largest economy in the world (and I can't see how privatising the NHS is going to save money long-term, either - hardly like the US model is any kind of advert for cost-effectiveness). I just can't believe we're abandoning the most vulnerable in society as we are.

I've just linked this thread to the Frothers' one.

May be we can get a blog post done and tweeted.

I'm in

These girls' need us....as let's face it,the Govt have abandoned them.

Is it a monthly payment? By DD?

I'll donate

thanks for flagging this up OP

It's a bit close to my heart...being the child of an addict.

Campaigns for donantions are wonderful. However i think that would would help is if the manager could give an estimated figure of how much per week it costs for each mother to stay there with their babies.

I bet that it does not come close to the cost of having that baby in foster care and all of the costs associated with setting up the contacts and assessments etc. So from a purely practical sense and in these cost cutting times, units such as these should be in exsistence, for reasons a Tory politicial will go for, to save money.

Add in the cost to society that once the baby goes for adoption, the mother more often than not will return to using drugs and engaging in illegal activity to fund this lifestyle.

Then we come back to fininacial, prisons cost a lot more than mothr and baby units, it makes sense on all levels to keep these projects open.

I have not discounted the individual cost, i have ignored it because i don't for one moment think that it is important to the tory party or their supporters

If this campaign is run in the right way i can see this being put to MP's by professionals involved in these systems.

[email protected] would be the format for those who would like to email the Guardian journalist directly.

I can't see all the links on my phone so I'll be back this evening and read all the detail.

Bloggers! Can they be alerted to this? I am under the impression that some of them are influential, I know nothing however. I really am going to work now. Honest.

god it's horrible :( but I think naomi house do a lottery you can sign up for (if you don't disagree with gambling)

I've found it also helps to deluge email key figures. I'll get some email addresses.

I would have thought that all the Bristol MPs might hace constituents who use or who know servicee users of Naomi House.
.........................................................................................

Members of Parliament (MPs)
The City of Bristol is covered by the following constituencies:

Bristol East
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

326a Church Road,
St George,
Bristol
BS5 8AJ

Tel: 0117 939 9901
Fax: 0117 939 9902

House of Commons
Tel: 020 7219 3000
Email: [email protected]

Bristol North West
Charlotte Leslie (Conservative)

184 Henleaze Road
Henleaze
Bristol
BS9 4NE

Tel/Fax: 0117 962 9427

House of Commons
Tel: 0207 2197026
Email: [email protected]

Bristol South
Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo (Labour)

PO Box 1002
Bristol
BS99 1WH

Tel: 0117 909 0063 (10am to 1pm)
Email: [email protected]

Bristol West
Stephen Williams (Liberal Democrat)

PO Box 2500
Bristol
BS6 9AH

Tel: 0117 942 3494
Fax: 0117 942 6925

House of Commons
Tel: 020 7219 8416
Email: [email protected]

I saw this this morning. Will be happy to contribute to a campaign/ fundraising to save it.

Just another sacrifice so that the rich people who run our country can get richer.
It makes my piss boil.

Bristol City Councillors

Leader - [email protected]

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People - [email protected]

Cabinet Member for Care and Health - [email protected]

I'll donate. I am happy to do a standing order each month. I can't bear that a place that actually makes a difference to peoples lives is being closed. All the politicians waffling on doesn't even scratch the surface.

I will donate ... I worked in the Voluntary Sector for many years, I'm still in touch with the staff and many of my former clients, the cuts they are making are devastating lives x

I'm happy to donate, these are the most vulnerable members of our society, they need our help, without it they will have their children taken from them and then what hope is there that they will stay clean and off the streets. It's a national disgrace that we treat people like this, and the govt will do it because they have no voice, we should stand up against this, I'm more than willing to.

I'm marking my place....I'm also in tears thinking of the potential lost babies and lost Mothers if that place is done for.

I'm not in a position to donate at the moment but am following and will write to anyone that might make a difference.

Can the frothers do a piece Knotty?

Shirl, am at work today but will get a blog post done this evening. I've alerted the Frothers so maybe someone else may get there before me.

I should do it, but I just can't handle frothing ATM. Sorry darling.

Bristol City Council are also proposing to cut the funding of a women-only hostel which helps women leaving/at risk of being in the sex industry. They want to cut the number of bedspaces and make those that are left in generic mixed-sex hostels. Which is dead helpful to those ladies obviously.

There's a petition in, the consultation period is on and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for those ladies that this valuable support isn't taken away. It's crap.

I have written to countless MPs/council leaders and will do so again over the link in the OP. Doubt it'll make any difference though.