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18
Oct
Starbeck counselling charity to restructure as income falls
A counselling charity based in Starbeck is preparing to restructure due to a downturn in income.
Wellspring Therapy and Training, on High Street, supports people struggling with stress and anxiety, loss, depression, eating disorders, addiction and more.
The Christian charity, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, offers affordable, short-term therapy.
But interim chief executive, Nick Garrett, today told the Stray Ferret income had reduced due to a decline in grants from foundations. He said:
What’s happened is really sad.
We haven’t made any redundancies yet - we are operating as normal at this point in time. But the trustees will meet on November 11, which will lead to some cutbacks.
Like all charities Wellspring has experienced a reduction in grant income from foundations, meaning changes will have to be made, even so we’ll still be seeing the same number of people.
Mr Garrett said some foundations were prioritising places with greater levels of deprivation.
He added:
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.
Speaking about November's meeting, Mr Garrett said:
We will look how changes can be made, but it will mean a restructuring.
Despite the move, Wellspring will continue to support up to 200 adults every week, Mr Garrett said, adding counselling services in schools and for children on-site will also carry on.
He told the Stray Ferret that Wellspring staff were doing “everything we can” to prioritise the services currently on offer.
Wellspring Therapy and Training currently has several paid employees and about 50 volunteers. Its website says some of the counsellors are self-employed.
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