Charity’s future in doubt over funds
A CHARITY that has served hundreds of young people in the South Wales Valleys for a quarter of a century could shut as the council prepares to cut its funding.
Viva Wales, which creates leisure and training opportunities for children and young people, says it is set to cease operations after Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) council moved funding elsewhere.
If no alternative is found, the service – which currently assists 116 people aged 11 to 30 across RCT – will close as soon as March, with the alternative for them as yet unknown.
A council spokesman said the current money given to Viva is not meant to act as “core funding”, and that support has been offered to the charity.
Teresa Butler, CEO of Viva, said: “It would be detrimental to our community as they are chopping the funding and going to give it to another project.
“That will force us to close our charity because it will just be so difficult to get funding because we haven’t got a business core – we just cannot afford any of the overheads.
“It will mean 10 people losing their jobs, as well as 116 children and young people facing an uncertain future.”
Ms Butler said although there would be an alternative service for the families, the charity, which was previously based in Pontypridd before moving to its Pentre School House base, has not yet been informed what that will be.
A letter written by Rhondda AM Leanne Wood to the council said: “I understand that the charity is now struggling to secure funds to cover the costs of the service, which has caused doubts as to whether the service can continue.
“This is despite the fact that the demand for the service is considerably high, with over 120 families a year engaged with the service and a further 30 children and young people on the waiting list.”
A spokesman for the council said that last year, the Welsh Government told them the criteria to support projects funded by the Families First Grant would change, meaning the local authority took a “detailed review” of each project, including Viva.
He explained: “The review included significant engagement with service users, providers – including Viva over a significant period of time – and other stakeholders. From this, the review identified a number of areas which have now informed future commissioning decisions.”
He said that would include the development of a “new family support service” that would mean a “targeted element” for families and children with additional needs. This will enable those families with more specific or specialist needs to have access to a holistic package of family support that focuses on building the resilience levels of the family unit,” he added.
He said this would provide a “fit for purpose approach which is more responsive and inclusive to the needs of families” in RCT.
He added: “Under the Family First programme, Viva is allocated a budget of £98,098 per annum, and contrary to statements made, this is not intended to act as core funding.
“Support has been offered to Viva, which to date has not been taken up; however the council is committed to utilising the next four months to work with Viva and the families currently receiving support, to ensure that there is a smooth transition into the new service.”