A community mental health charity, Mind, has announced the closure of its Halton branch in Runcorn due to financial difficulties and a challenging economic climate. The Wellington Street center, which provided counseling and wellbeing courses, is closing after being placed into administration.
Mind attributed the closure to a “challenging economic climate” and “insufficient ongoing funding.” The Halton branch was part of a network of 100 local Mind charities across England and Wales and operated as an independent registered charity affiliated with the national organization.
The branch employed two full-time and three part-time staff members, who are now facing redundancy as administrators manage the closure process. Runcorn and Helsby Labour MP Mike Amesbury expressed his disappointment over the closure, calling it a “crying shame.”
“This is unfortunately part of a broader trend of charities struggling across the country,” Amesbury said. He noted that another local Mind group is exploring the possibility of expanding its services to address the gap left by the closure. Amesbury also plans to reach out to NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board to discuss the potential impact on local mental health services.
Aidan Mersh, Associate Director of Federation Support at Mind, assured that efforts are being made to ensure that service users continue to receive the support they need. “We are working with Mind Halton to ensure a smooth transition for its service users and to offer ongoing support to the local community,” Mersh said.
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