Project facing closure in weeks (From Gazette & Herald)

Project facing closure in weeks

RYEDALE'S biggest youth organisation is 'running on empty' with finances, and will close down in a matter of weeks due to a lack of funds.

The Ryedale Child and Youth Project (RCYP) found out last month it was £20,000 short of grant aid to complete the financial package of funding needed to keep them up and running for the next three years.

Faced with this shortfall, the project could well close down completely without a rescue package.

Andy and Jennie Brown, who between them manage and run RCYP, are now working without pay.

"We are so overwhelmed by the groundswell of support from across the district that we feel we owe it to the young people and the volunteer youth workers to keep going as long as possible," said Andy.

He is also pleased that there seems to be some offer of financial help on the horizon.

"It appears that the political will is there to help us find the £20,000 we need to keep going, but the question for us is, will it come through in time to save the service as it currently stands?"

Without an immediate answer to this dilemma he and Jennie are determined to keep RCYP running until at least the end of October. "It's not long but it may be long enough for us to get the commitment we need for more funding, only time will tell," said Andy.

Already they have had to close two of their regular clubs for young people and they are not sure how much more of their already depleted services they can continue to provide in the coming weeks.

"We will hang on as long as we can, partly in recognition of the wonderful letters and phone calls we have had from the community giving us encouragement," added Andy.

Updated: 12:22 Wednesday, October 19, 2005