12
Nov
Job losses at Harrogate charity as restructure begins
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A counselling charity in Starbeck has begun the process of making staff redundant as part of a restructuring exercise.
Wellspring Therapy and Training, on Starbeck High Street, has provided affordable mental health services for more than 20 years.
But last month the Christian charity told the Stray Ferret its income had fallen due to a decline in grants from foundations, and it was preparing to restructure.
Following a trustees' meeting last night (November 11), interim chief executive Nick Garrett told the Stray Ferret the “difficult decision” to restructure its staff had been made.
He said:
The trustees of Wellspring Therapy and Training met last night to review feedback from our recent consultation with clients, charity partners, donors and staff. This consultation focused on proposed changes to our staffing structure to ensure Wellspring’s long-term sustainability in a challenging funding environment.
Trustees made difficult decisions to restructure staffing, and we are committed to supporting all our staff through this transition.
A full public statement will be released on Tuesday, November 19th, with further details.
Mr Garrett did not disclose how many jobs will be lost, but told the Stray Ferret the move “will primarily impact non-counsellor roles in administration and management”.
The charity will continue to deliver high-quality mental health services to those that rely on us, Mr Garrett said. He added:
Like many charities, Wellspring is experiencing increased demand for our services while facing intense competition for grant funding.
We are actively exploring new partnerships and fundraising initiatives to bridge this gap and continue providing vital mental health support.
Mr Garrett previously told the Stray Ferret he felt some foundations were prioritising areas with greater levels of deprivation. He said at the time:
I can absolutely see why funding has been allocated elsewhere. But our outgoings for next year don’t match our current income.
Harrogate is very wealthy compared to other parts of the UK which means foundations can sometimes overlook our area. It’s therefore vitally important that charities in our area continue to work closely together to support people in need.
Despite the move, Mr Garrett stressed Wellspring will continue to support up to 200 adults every week, and counselling services for children on-site and in schools will carry on.
Wellspring Therapy and Training, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, currently has 19 employees and around 50 volunteers. According to its website, some of the counsellors are self-employed.
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