Crossroads Care East Anglia, which employs 170 people, will close at the end of the month, with some or all of its services being transferred to other charities.
No redundancies have yet been confirmed as the charity is trying to transfer services to other organisations. At least 100 jobs have already been saved.
The charity was formed in 2012 from the merger of five Crossroads charities in East Anglia. The resources from four Crossroads schemes were transferred to Crossroads Carying for Carers in Norfolk, which was renamed and in the two years since it has reported a financial deficit.
Brenda Bond, chief executive of Crossroads Care East Anglia, said: “Our management team is working diligently to ensure, wherever possible, that service provision continues uninterrupted across Norfolk, Suffolk and Uttlesford.”
For the year ending March 2013 the charity reported a deficit of over £500,000. The trustees’ report accepted that this represented “significant losses” and said the charity was taking steps to reduce its cost base. For the year ending March 2014 its income was £2.8m, with a deficit of £66,000.
In their 2014 report trustees said: “There were more significant amounts of merger and redundancy costs than had been anticipated and these showed through significantly as the demand for hours fell back at the same time.”
Staff costs represented the largest item of expenditure for the charity. It spent around £2m in 2014, at which point it had 225 employees.
At March 2014 it had reserves of £119,901.
Services transferred to other charities
Carers Trust Cambridgeshire will take over responsibility for the delivery of services currently based in Attleborough, Dereham, Downham Market, Great Yarmouth and Horsford, as well as the Norfolk Young Carers forum and the Young Adult Carers support services, securing 100 jobs in Norfolk.
Helen Brown, chief executive of Carers Trust Cambridgshire, said: “Through combining Carers Trust Cambridgeshire’s experience with the commitment and enthusiasm of the Crossroads East Anglia staff, we expect to reach more carers in Norfolk and offer them breaks and support. Our plans for what will be known as Carers Trust Norfolk, Crossroads Carers Services will be to be a local provider, delivering high quality local services provided by local people.”
Leadership of the Carers Agency Partnership [CAP], including the Norfolk Carers Helpline, will transfer to Norfolk Carers Support.
The Admission Prevention Service in west Suffolk is transferring back in-house to West Suffolk Hospital and will be administered by the NHS.
Uttlesford Young Adult Carers service will transfer to Action for Family Carers as part of the Supporting Carers in Essex partnership.
