Cumbria Mental Health Group to fold amid ‘uncertain funding’
Last updated at 16:26, Friday, 22 March 2013
A CHARITY that for more than a decade was at the forefront of improving services for people in Furness with mental illnesses has announced it will fold.
Members of the Cumbria Mental Health Group voted overwhelmingly at a meeting on Monday in favour of winding up the organisation. The decision was made in the face of what chairman Jim Bradley described as an “uncertain funding future” that made it difficult to continue.
He said: “It’s very sad that the way we’ve been able to work as a user and carer-led organisation won’t be able to continue. But at the end of the meeting we had a big round of applause expressing gratitude for the work we had been able to do over the last 12 years.”
The group began life as the South Cumbria Mental Health Users and Carer Forum before becoming a registered charity in 2004. It changed its name to the Cumbria Mental Health Group and expanded in 2007 to include branches in Barrow, West Cumbria, Carlisle and Kendal.
The charity was dependent on government support filtered through Cumbria County Council, Cumbria NHS Primary Care Trust and the National Lottery. Mr Bradley, who has served as chairman for the last three years, said the aim of the group had always been to ensure patients had the means available to them to help their recoveries.
Despite the group’s collapse being a blow to mental health service users and their carers, Mr Bradley said he was confident their rights would continue to be championed by other organisations.
First published at 16:05, Friday, 22 March 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
At a time when there is very little support in the area for people with mental health difficulties I am saddened that once again those in need are left without support following the withdrawal of funds. Certainly other organisations will continue to campaign until the NHS puts the appropriate services in place The National Autistic society are already campaigning for much needed support for autistic children and adults with mental health needs as sadly Cumbria NHS Primary care trust have not filled that need for many years. As usual voluntary and charitable organisations are left having to campaign for the help their families and friends need and deserve. The closure of this group will be a huge loss I'm sure to many who rely on them.
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There was no transport laid on for this meeting & there was not enough notice of the meeting at Kendal, other wise they could have filled a bus with Furness folk, I know because I tried? I reiterate, Ask the Execs Why the NHS (refused) to renew there funding? We were kept in the dark & not for the first time! Furness looses out again & our Service Users/Carers to self promotion & agendas of a few!
Posted by A Reader. on 23 March 2013 at 19:19