CHILDREN’S charity The Venture has won an 11th hour reprieve.
The management committee was due to meet on Tuesday evening as the Chronicle went to press and was recommended not to go ahead with closure of the Wrexham scheme yesterday.
The Venture – which provides services for up to 500 youngsters from its base at Caia Park – is seeking a judicial review against Wrexham County Borough Council, claiming its £90,000 cut in funding is forcing it to close.
The council strongly disputes this since the charity receives other funding.
This week manager Cllr Malcolm King outlined new measures which he believes will save it from closure – at least for the summer:
An application for a loan from Caia Park Community Council.
Revised staffing levels which won’t need so many staff on duty.
An army of volunteers offering to help, including 25 ex-Venture staff.
A revised offer from Wrexham council.
Cllr King said they will need to see the offer in writing.
He was confident the decision to close tomorrow could be reversed although until details of the council offer were known he did not know how long for.
The Venture is one of the biggest children’s charities in the region, helping children from deprived backgrounds,
Clare Field, Wrexham council’s chief prevention and inclusion officer, said: “Officers have been working with The Venture management committee over many months in order to ensure that the Venture does not close.
“This does not involve providing The Venture with any additional funding above that which has already been offered by the council.”
