THE most vulnerable people in the county could soon have some of their most valuable services taken away.

A programme that helps about 10,000 people in Worcestershire to maintain an independent life is to have its budget slashed by more than £3m over the next few years - at a cost of around £300 per person.

The Supporting People service helps people to set up home, supports them with shopping and errands, monitors medication, and offers security and counselling.

It also helps with legal services, access to community organisations and problems with racial harassment, among many other services.

But the initiative, which was set up by the Government in 2003, will be hit hard by the latest cutbacks. Exactly how Worcestershire will be affected remains to be seen as the services are awaiting review.

Funding for Supporting People nationwide has gradually been cut from a peak of £1.81bn in 2003-4 to £1.72bn for 2005-6 and a planned further reduction to 1.7bn by 2006-7.

At county level it means funding has fallen from £16.5m in 2003-4 to £15.9m for 2004-5 and to £15.2m in 2005-6.

Eventually, Worcestershire's share of the national pot could fall to as little as £11.8m, a reduction of £3.4m over the next few years.

The service is administered by the county council, which works with the six district councils, three primary care trusts and the West Mercia Probation Service.

Liz Eyre, Worcestershire County Council cabinet member with responsibility social services, said: "I am particularly concerned that changing the way the grant is distributed is effectively moving money away from Worcestershire into metropolitan areas."

"The distribution formula is complex and the County Councils Network's (CCN) view is that the formula is based on the flawed methodology, such as the inappropriate use of the deprivation index, ethnicity levels and population density."

At a meeting of the city council's cabinet later today, members will decide whether to also approve action to challenge the reduction.