Leicestershire carers group facing funding crisis

A support group for carers in Leicestershire and Rutland will be forced to close in July if it cannot raise £25,000, a spokesman said.

The Carers Centre in Leicester offers support to about 3,000 people annually.

One client said the support offered by the centre’s counsellors was a “lifeline” for her.

The centre has a £200,000 a year budget, but cuts from local councils and a drop in donations means it has a funding shortfall.

Centre manager Charles Huddlestone said the closure would send some people into “crisis”.

He said it would “create more cost for crisis support from social services and medical support from the NHS – all of which could be avoided by raising the £25,000”.

He added: “Carers who access our counselling service are often at a critical stage, unable to cope with their heartbreaking situations and often suffering from a high degree of stress and depression.

“Fundraising is becoming harder and harder – and we are getting smaller and fewer donations.”

Yvonne Clegg, who uses the service, said: “This service is a lifeline because there is nobody else I can go to when I need to air my feelings or get out the frustrations that I feel.”