A MUCH-loved Redditch charity that has helped thousands of carers is facing the devastating prospect of having to close after almost 30 years of service due to funding cuts.

Carers Careline, at the Ecumenical Centre, aims to provide a health, mental and emotional support to unpaid carers in the Redditch area.

Its current grant from the Big Lottery Fund will come to an end on July 31 and the charity is struggling to secure funding elsewhere.

So far, one job has been axed with another three redundancies to follow, should the charity be forced to close.

Chief officer Fiona Mitchell said: "We are really upset, we help a lot of people get by and it will be really difficult.

"We have about 200 carers and just having someone call up and ask them how they are doing really helps.

"For staff it is really upsetting because it could mean redundancy but we are more upset for the carers.

"The board of trustees and the staff would very much like to keep the organisation open as we know many of the unpaid carers in the town benefit from the service and enjoy being involved with the organisation.

Staff have been holding a number of promotional fundraising events, the latest of which was held earlier in the month during National Carers Week.

Ms Mitchell added: "Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful in securing ongoing funding to date and we have to face the very real prospect of closure.

"We do still have funding applications being processed and we are still fundraising in the hope that we can secure enough money to keep us going while we try to secure longer term funding."

Charity chairman Mark Rickwood added: "It is a sad sign of the times that after 29 years of supporting unpaid carers in Redditch Carers Careline may have to close.

"Having the support from the Big Lottery Fund for the last three years has enabled the unpaid carers of Redditch to continue to benefit from the unique services we provide but this funding will end.

"We will endeavour to signpost our carers in the direction of other support services within Worcestershire but would like to hear from anybody who may be able to offer financial support to enable us to continue."

For more information or to support the organisation contact Fiona Mitchell at Carers Careline on 01527 66177 or email info@carerscareline.co.uk.