Century old charity set to close

A WARRINGTON charity which dates back more than 100 years has become the latest victim of the recession and is set to close its doors for the last time in six months.
Warrington Council for Voluntary Service (CVS), an independent organisation based at the Gateway on Sankey Street, set up 101 years ago, helps other local voluntary and community groups to work well for their members, offering a range of services to enable them to carry out their work, achieve their aims and become more effective.
But following the loss of funding the charity has been forced to make the difficult decision of closing its doors.
In a joint statement Chief Executive Nigel Bacon and Chair of Trustees Rev Stephen Kingsnorth said: “It is with great regret that the Trustees of Warrington CVS have taken the decision to close the organisation down over the next 6 months or so.
“This is due to a combination of factors, one of the most significant being loss of income through contracts coming to their natural end and no replacement income being available.
“The CVS has a proud record stretching over the last 101 years of supporting front line organisations so the decision was not taken lightly, but given the combination of all the factors the Board felt this was the only realistic option. The staff have been informed of the decision and are naturally deeply shocked and saddened but have committed to continuing to provide the best service we can during the wind-down period.
“Partners and stakeholders will be kept up to date with the plans for closure as they are developed over the coming weeks and months.
“The Trustees thank partners for their support in the past and look forward to working with them through the closure process. Most of all the Trustees thank the staff for their dedication, loyalty and sheer hard work over the years and particularly in these difficult times.”
The charity has previously received funding from the Big Lottery and has run a special fund-raising grassroots appeal.