WARRINGTON-based suicide prevention charity PAPYRUS has gone into administration, with the organisation closing its doors with immediate effect.
With just two days until World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10), the charity, which has its head office in Warrington, has appointed joint administrators from Opus Restructuring & Insolvency following what it described as an “extended and extremely difficult period”.
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide – established in 1997 by bereaved parents – has worked for almost 30 years to prevent young suicide, providing specialist support, campaigning, education and training across the UK.
The charity said rising demand, increased trading costs and a reduction in reliable funding across the charity sector had left it unable to continue operating.
The decision comes just months after PAPYRUS launched a major rebrand and new three-year strategy aimed at reaching more young people who were struggling with life.
Last year, PAPYRUS launched an emergency appeal after warning that rising costs and falling donations were putting pressure on its ability to maintain overnight support.
That appeal was backed by former Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, while three bereaved fathers known as the 3 Dads Walking have raised more than £1.5m for PAPYRUS through a series of fundraising walks.
The three dads – Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen – lost their daughters to suicide and have become some of the charity’s most prominent supporters.
Following the latest announcement, the group said they were “devastated” and expressed disbelief that such an important service had been left dependent on charitable fundraising.
They said the collapse represented the loss of a service which had helped keep young people alive and warned that pressure on support services would ultimately fall on the NHS, families and those needing help.
PAPYRUS said its board and senior management had explored every available option to secure the charity’s future, including changes to its operating model, cost reductions and the possibility of transferring services to other organisations.
The joint administrators said they would now manage the charity’s affairs through the administration process.
They added that, where possible, a transfer of services would be sought to willing parties.
The immediate closure means PAPYRUS’s HOPELINE247 service is no longer operating. If you need support, or are worried about a young person, help and support can alternatively be found via:
- Samaritans – call 116 123
- Shout – text SHOUT to 85258
- NHS 111 – for urgent mental health support
- Or, in an emergency call 999 or go to A&E
