"Tragic" decision to close young people's charity hit by funding woes
The pandemic has had a big impact on the organisation
Last updated 17th Mar 2022
A charity that supports children and young people in the New Forest is to close in April after failing to secure enough money.
Totton-based It's Your Choice has been providing advice relating to mental health and emotional issues for 35 years.
The charity, which supports around 1,000 11 to 25-year-olds a year, said it had struggled to generate enough income during the pandemic.
A lack of longer-term funding opportunities over the last two years is being blamed.
Chief officer Chris Shaw said: "It's a really tough time for the staff and volunteers.
"We had a 45 per cent increase in referrals to our service during the pandemic and that's continued now"
"It's not that there isn't a need for our services, it's just the funding isn't there."
The charity said it would close its services by 7 April, but the decision would be reviewed if sufficient funding is found for a further year's operation.
Alex Martin, wellness lead at New Forest Academy, a secondary school in Holbury, said: "The impact of no longer having It's Your Choice coming into our school will have a huge detrimental effect.
"I am very concerned already about mental health across young people, not only within our school, but in the wider community."