THE future of a Thurrock performing arts group for adults with disabilities and mental health issues looks a lot brighter today (Tuesday, 1 August) after a welter of support overnight following a BBC documentary.

Grays-based Funky Feet is run by JTD Arts Limited and its CEO Vickki Jarmyn has told Thurrock Nub News she and supporters of the group are 'completely overwhelmed' by messages of support and pledges of cash after the group was featured on Panorama last night.

The story of the group, which said it faced possible closure after Thurrock Council cut subsidies worth £7,000, was told as part of a Panorama probe into the hundreds of millions of pounds lost by the council following failure of its 'borrow to invest' policy.

The whole catastrophic episode, which includes a flamboyant multi-millionaire making millions with ill-placed advice and dodgy brokerage services, was encapsulated in this Thurrock Nub News story prior to last night's broadcast – and we published a review of the documentary after it went out.

One immediate benefit has been the huge outpouring of sympathy for Funky Feet, though Thurrock Council has been quick to point out that the facts portrayed on TV were potentially disingenuous and no 'grant' had actually been cut.

A fundraising page was set up in the wake of the programme and it has already raised £2,000 towards a target of £7,000 as donations flooded in last night and today. You can donate here.

Other fundraisers have been set up locally and one businessman from Shropshire was so moved by the plight of the group he contacted Thurrock Nub News this morning to offer a pledge of £1,000.

Vickki Jarmyn talks to BBC reporter Bronagh Munro.

The response has left Vickki in something of a state of shock. She said: "I am just so grateful, The response has been unbelievable, I am completely overwhelmed.

"With what we have been promised following the programme going out I think we can say that the future is going to be safe for at least two years – by which time things will have hopefully got better at the council.

"I just can't say thank-you enough to everyone who has offered support or donated cash. You won't often see me in tears, it was out of character when I cried during the filming and – to be honest – I hadn't expected them to show it but I certainly have had a tear in my eye this morning. Thank you so much to everyone on behalf of everyone connected with Funky Feet – especially all the group members who get so much out of what we do."

Meanwhile Thurrock Council has outlined to Nub News what it told Panorama before the broadcast – and it would be fair to say its response was not fully reported.

So we are happy to post it here in the interest of fairness.

Panorama asked the council: "Other community groups have faced partial or total cuts to grants they received from the council. One of the groups affected is Funky Feet, a dance class for vulnerable adults with learning disabilities. This group ran for 14 years with financial support from Thurrock Council. This year, the group had its funding of £7,000 per year cut completely. Proposals put forward for smaller amounts of funding were also rejected."

The council's response was: "Funky Feet has never received a grant from Thurrock Council. Instead they got support in the form of venue hire fees being paid directly by the council on their behalf.

"While this payment is no longer available the council has explained to JTD Arts that we can possibly help their participants access direct payments, giving them choice and control over which activities they feel they will get the most benefit from, which could include Funky Feet.

"In order to do this the council has asked JTD Arts to talk to the people that attend Funky Feet and their families to ask if they are happy for their details to be passed on to the council so the council can work with them to help them secure this funding.

"This has been put to the Principal of JTD Arts by email and through two online meetings. So far JTD Arts has only supplied one name and not provided any other information about any discussions they have had with their clients and their families about this proposal.

"Thurrock Council is happy to assist participants access direct payments where they are entitled, so they can fund any activity they consider most beneficial."

That promoted a Panorama response from reporter Bronagh Munro that said: "I appreciate your clarification that the support for JTD Arts and the Funky Feet class was not in the form of a grant. It is our understanding that the council is no longer able to provide the support in the same form as previous years due to the restrictions on council spending imposed by the Section 114 notice of last year. Do you dispute this?"

Bronagh Munro talks to members of Funky Feet.

To which the council replied: "The previous arrangement which was in place with Funky Feet was unusual for a local authority. Normally such a service would be provided via direct funding to individuals, who could then opt to access this service as a matter of choice.

"As outlined in our response, we have made the offer to provide additional support to Funky Feet's clients by exploring what direct payments they may be entitled to and Funky Feet have not supplied the information we need to do this."

Meanwhile other reaction to the Panorama report has fuelled calls for a public enquiry into the financial collapse of Thurrock – and other councils.

Thurrock Labour leader Cllr John Kent, who appeared on the programme, told Nub News: "The Conservatives have overseen the catastrophic collapse of the council's finances which will see us all paying through cuts to vital front-line services and higher council tax for years to come.

"Such is the scale of this disaster that a third of the council's budget is being used to service the Tory debt.

"We need a full, comprehensive independent inquiry to uncover just how we - and other councils - ended up in this mess.

"It's shameful that Thurrock Tories have opposed such an inquiry."

A petition calling on the government to establish such an enquiry has been launched and can be found via this link. It now has more than 2,00 signatures.

And if you haven't seen Panorama' broadcast – catch it on BBC iPlayer here.