Funding Fears at Log Cabin Charity Ease

Council reconsiders proposal to stop after-school referrals

Liberal Democrat councillor Jonathan Oxley raises the issue at a recent council meeting

March 10, 2026

The Log Cabin Charity in Northfields, which has supported children with special educational needs and disabilities for more than 40 years, has been reassured that its council-funded after-school provision will continue after Ealing Council decided not to proceed with a proposal that had raised concerns about the organisation’s financial stability.

The charity, based in Northfields Avenue, provides after-school, weekend and holiday short breaks for children with complex needs, many of whom have Education, Health and Care Plans. It is one of the borough’s longest-established specialist providers, offering structured play, respite support and inclusive activities for families who often rely on the service for regular, reliable care.

Concerns were raised after the charity was informed during a meeting on 27 February that council referrals to one of its after-school activities might end. The Log Cabin believed that the loss of this funding stream could threaten its viability and potentially lead to redundancies among its 50 specialist staff. Liberal Democrat councillor Jonathan Oxley submitted an emergency question to Full Council on 3 March, asking the administration to withdraw the proposal and begin a full consultation with parents, the charity and other stakeholders.

At the meeting, the council confirmed that it would not proceed with the proposal. Councillor Oxley welcomed the decision but questioned how the situation had arisen. He said the Log Cabin was a critical resource for families across the borough and argued that the council’s initial approach had caused unnecessary distress.

Ealing Council said it had never proposed the closure of the Log Cabin and that the organisation had continued to operate its full range of services throughout. A spokesperson said the discussions had related only to council funding for one after-school activity for a specific group of children, and that other services commissioned from the charity, including holiday schemes, had never been under review. The council added that it regularly assesses the activities it commissions to ensure they meet the needs of local children with SEND and that, after further consideration, it had decided not to progress with the proposal.

The council also disputed the claim that referrals had been “ceased with one month’s notice”, stating that internal discussions had explored making any change at the end of term, which would have provided at least six weeks’ notice. According to the council, the Log Cabin requested that any change be delayed until the end of the school year on 23 July, and no immediate alteration to provision was ever proposed.

An Ealing Labour spokesperson criticised the Liberal Democrats’ handling of the issue, saying the party was being disingenuous and accusing it of politicising concerns affecting vulnerable children. The spokesperson said that as soon as Labour councillors became aware of the proposal, they made clear that its impact on the Log Cabin would be unacceptable, and that this outcome would have been reached regardless of opposition intervention.

The Log Cabin continues to operate as normal and remains a key part of Ealing’s short-breaks and SEND support network. The charity, founded in the early 1980s, has long been regarded as a lifeline for families who need specialist after-school and holiday provision. Its staff work with children who have a wide range of needs, providing structured play, sensory activities, outdoor learning and respite support that allows parents and carers time to work, rest or manage other responsibilities.