A safe haven for vulnerable adults in Moray will shut its doors next year after the council announced it was withdrawing funding.
Staff at the Moray Anchor Project have been told the local authority will not be renewing its contract with the charity due to changes in the way its mental health services are to be delivered in future.
Horizons Resource Centre will close down when its funding comes to an end in March after helping people with mental illnesses for more than two decades.
Eight employees, who run drop-in sessions to help about 80 adults in the area, now face the prospect of redundancy.
Moray Council insisted that funding for mental health services was not being cut, but would be allocated differently in future.
A spokesman claimed the restructuring and modernisation of services would lead to improvements and confirmed a new contract would be put out to tender to replace the work done by the charity.
Jamie Wright, 49, has been going to the centre for about eight years after suffering a brain injury in a car accident in 2006. The Lhanbryde resident described the decision to axe the contract with the charity as “a shock”.
He added: “There’s a lot of anger and resentment about this decision. I don’t feel as though there has been any consultation about this. It’s just been handed down and that’s that.
“It’s the only facility of its kind in Moray. It has been going for 25 years and it is a tried and tested project.
“We’re all very concerned about it because of the lack of information about what’s going to happen next – especially because there are a lot of people that go there with mental health and anxiety issues.”
The Moray Anchor Project aims to encourage adults with mental illnesses back into work by running drop-in sessions to boost their confidence and self-esteem.
The charity also runs the Step Forward scheme at the Pinefield Industrial Estate in Elgin, which gives woodwork and arts training to enhance skills.
Allaying the concerns of those who attend the groups, while the changes take place, is now the primary concern for Helen Milnes, the manager of the charity.
She said: “It’s a shame. We clearly need to support our clients in how they are going to manage when our services close at the end of March.
“Everyone was shocked and quite upset about it when we were told. It’s really going to be difficult to help everyone come to terms with the decision.
“We’re not entirely sure what will happen. The council has decided to put the service specification out to tender. They’re looking for something a bit different.”
A spokesman for the local authority responded that a review of current mental health services by the council and NHS Grampian had concluded the current system was not fit for purpose in the future.
He added: “We are aware of the value placed on Horizons and Step Forward in keeping people mentally well.
“We are working closely with the skilled staff and volunteers from the two services to support people through this eight-month transition period. Anyone who needs ongoing support will receive it.
“A range of opportunities will be created for people to get involved in helping to identify what redesigned mental health services in Moray should look like and deliver in the future.”
He said a leaflet explaining the changes has been given to service users and their families, which explained what was being proposed.
