Havering Mind’s chief executive: Cutbacks have ‘destabled’ our charity

The chief executive of a mental health charity says cutbacks in funding have “destabled” the organisation.

Vanessa Bennett, chief executive of Havering Mind - Credit: Archant

Vanessa Bennett spoke at Havering’s health overview and scrutiny sub-committee last night to convey the impact of the Havering Clinical Commissioning Group’s decision not to renew a contract with the charity.

Havering Mind’s contract to provide its community wellbeing service ended in December and has resulted in a loss of £170,000 – 42 per cent of its funding.

Ms Bennett said the decision has left “gaps” in mental health services, while chairman Bob Antell, who also attended the meeting, said: “We experienced a 22 per cent increase in the number of referrals we were getting, so it is ironic that we are now subject to not being able to provide the service.”

Alan Steward, chief operating officer at Havering CCG, spoke of bridging funding which has been agreed with Havering Mind.

The charity will receive £60,000 between now and June.

See more on this story and other agenda items in next week’s Recorder and online.