WARRINGTON charity The Relationships Centre, which was set up to help vulnerable young people, is set to close its doors after 18 years due to a financial crisis following a failed building project.
The charity based on Museum Street, Warrington, started life in 1998 and over the years has provided many successful services for local families, women and young people.
Some of the programmes were the result of collaborative partnerships between statutory organisations to address local priorities and needs.
One example was the ‘Talk don’t Walk’ programme which aimed to reduce the burden on services across the area – police, health and social care through tackling the underlying reasons behind a young person running away from home, by working closely with their family and other professionals such as school, social services or any other agency.
In recent years, the charity has attracted only limited funding, providing some services in schools, including the provision of essential life skills and unique support for care leavers, leaving it facing a significant financial challenge.
Acting Director Sarah Humphreys said: “A failed building project to convert the cellar in the building instigated by the former director added to the burden.
“The work had been undertaken in the absence of planning consent, failed building regulations and no contracts in place without any authorisation; following her departure and the resignation of the chair and treasurer the organisation restructured and started to work to reduce costs and identify additional income.
“Even with support from building contractors and the council, and despite the combined efforts of the team themselves, the trustees and the new management team, the challenge was simply too big.”
Sarah added: “Other financial issues and historical irregularities emerged and the only option now available to the charity is closure, with the loss of services to schools and vulnerable young people that aren’t offered by any other agency.
“The team of youth support workers have provided commitment, compassion and a way forward for young people who previously felt isolated, excluded and unable to exchange. Their work in schools has been praised and the feedback from teachers, parents and above all students, has been positive on every level.
“On a personal level I have never worked with such a talented, committed and innovative team; their ability to reach out and engage with young people and their willingness to go the extra mile for their clients will be sorely missed. Making them redundant has probably been the hardest thing that I have ever done.”
Sarah concluded: “The remaining trustees are supportive, reliable and totally committed and the finance manager and operational manager have worked so hard to reverse the problems that if sheer determination could have won the day, it would.”
