BATCHLEY Support Group’s (BSG) Mark and Jan Barron say they are ‘extremely worried’ about its future due to increased demand for services and financial pressures.
Established in the 1980s to help women suffering from domestic violence, the group’s function has changed and evolved over the years to suit the needs of the local community.
Among their biggest services is a community pantry which offers food to struggling people across Redditch and the wider county.
The BSG also helps young people and pensioners with social inclusion, mental health issues and homelessness support.
The group operates with just one full-time and one part-time salaried worker alongside volunteers and currently supports 600 people in Redditch.
Over the past year, BSG has seen an increased demand for its services, with an extra 200 referrals from social services, schools, and the police.
Up until now it has used Lottery funding secured three years ago but this will run out in January.
Jan said: “Even now we are packing and boxing food hampers to help those in need over Christmas without help from the statutory providers.”
Mark added: “We are extremely worried about the future of this service – we have seen cuts to grants and funding and, on top of this, the council has increased our rents, saying we have agreed to this.
“We can only say we did not agree to this and what charity in their right mind would agree to a cut in funding?
“I’m trying to secure some more funding but it’s very difficult – we wouldn’t be able to run without volunteers anyway, but when the money runs out we can’t expect them to run this place on a full-time basis.
“These are scary times for so many people including those we support who are in work – the concern is where will they go if we’re not here?
“We aren’t an expensive service, we’re very cautious with money but we’re now down to the bone.”
A council spokesperson said it was sad to hear about the Lottery funding ending, adding its grants officer would be in touch to offer advice about other grants to consider.
“We will also encourage them to work with BARN, our overarching network for voluntary services organisation for the Borough.
“The council recognises the crucial role the group has played in supporting residents during the pandemic and more recently with the cost-of-living.”
They added the council had provided £13,000 in household support grants between October 2021 and September 2022 and confirmed the group would receive a further £3,500 up until March.
The spokesperson said the group had received holiday and activities funding and noted the group had not, in recent years, applied for the authority’s annual grants, encouraging BSG to apply for 2023/24.
They added the Council’s Concessionary Rents Scheme was transitioned over the last three years and organisations were able to apply to the Grants to Voluntary Bodies scheme for core funding, such as rent.
Grants scheme to apply for core funding, such as rent costs.
“We look forward to continuing to support the group in the future.”
Visit batchleysupportgroup.com/donations or call 01527 457291 for more on Batchley Support Group or to donate.
