Poverty charity closes over lack of funding

The charity helped run sessions like this one at Big Barn Lane Methodist Church in Mansfield

The chairman of a charity that has ceased operations because of a lack of funding has described it as the "end of an era".

Nottingham-based Transforming Notts Together, which was founded in 2013, worked with churches around the region to support people affected by poverty.

Four staff will be made redundant after assisting with the "close down procedure" until 18 December, a statement from the trustees said.

Chairman Bishop Peter Hill said that opportunities to get grant funding had "diminished" in the last few years.

"We've been ticking along quarter-to-quarter for the last two years... but in the last few weeks we realised that we no longer can look forward three months," he said.

Trustees for the charity previously took part in a skydive in an effort to raise money

The charity - which at its peak had 10 staff - trained and supported churches across Nottinghamshire in running services such as warm spaces and food banks.

Bishop Hill said staff had been "devastated" by the decision.

He said while some of its partner churches would be able to keep running their services on a self-sustaining basis, it was inevitable that some would be cut.

"[We] apologise to those churches and groups who we have supported and who we are no longer able to help. There is much still to do," he added.

However, despite the closure he did thank donors who had allowed the charity to continue operating for as long as it did.

"The other trustees and chief officer Simon Cartwright have worked so hard to raise funds independent of grant-making bodies, through sponsored walks, skydives and other ventures," he said.