URDD JOBS TO BE AXED AMID CASH LOSSES
ONE of Europe’s leading youth organisations, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, has put nearly half of its workforce under threat of redundancy as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has seen it losing £500,000 of income a month.
With its residential centres closed, and a projected £14m hit to income over the next two years, its chief executive Sian Lewis said the Urdd, Wales’ largest youth organisation, is facing the most challenging period in its 98-year history.
As a result, it said that 80 jobs along with 70 casual workers, out of a workforce of 320, are under threat of redundancy.
Most of the Urdd staff have been furloughed, but the UK Government’s Job Retention Scheme will come to an end in October.
The Urdd’s staffing costs alone amount to £6m a year, and even after making cuts, the organisation faces posting losses of £3.4m for the next 18 months.
Speaking yesterday, Ms Lewis said: “This is a sad day for this unique organisation, which is an integral part of the lives of so many people in Wales. The impact of the pandemic has been devastating for every department within the Urdd. “There is no option but to review costs across the organisation and see how we can continue to offer some services within the safety guidelines, with the primary objective of safeguarding the future of the Urdd. “The situation is concerning and worrying for our workforce and our main concern in the coming weeks will be their wellbeing. Discussions are ongoing within each department to see how the cuts will affect staff and the future services of those departments.
“It must be emphasised that the cuts are in no way a reflection of the standard of work or dedication of staff – it is a situation that has arisen entirely due to factors beyond our control, Covid-19.
“Our executive crisis committee, trustees and senior management team have been cautious in our discussions, ensuring that we have looked at every possible source of funding to safeguard as much of the workforce as possible.”
She said the Urdd has always striven to generate its own income and not be too dependent on public funding. Last year, of its £10m-plus revenue, only 19% came from the public purse.
Ms Lewis added: “Now, with our centres closed to residential courses, no income from our community and sports work, the situation has and will continue to put a huge financial strain on the Urdd. No organisation could survive such a situation without making cuts and unfortunately that is what the Urdd is facing.
“We have been successful in two bids for funding and have received a support package totalling £3.1m from the Welsh Government. This support is invaluable and will enable us to maintain a framework of core staff to maintain a service base across all our platforms and allow us to continue with and complete our construction projects.”
Dyfrig Davies, chairman of the Urdd, said: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news about the Urdd’s situation. Clearly, preserving the workforce and safeguarding the Urdd has been foremost in our minds for nearly four months now.
“The future is uncertain, but we must plan to ensure the future and longevity of the Urdd and our membership.
“We are grateful to our members, supporters and volunteers over the decades and I am confident that together we can survive this difficult time. We will be sharing any news in due course, but for now, we will be focusing on supporting our workforce through the next stage.”