An interim service to support voluntary and community organisations in Harrow, north London, will be launched next week, following the closure of Harrow Association of Voluntary Services in the spring.

The CVS closed after its funding was suspended by Harrow Council.

The new service, which has been set up by Harrow Council, will be in place until March 2012 to help Harrow’s voluntary sector groups strengthen their organisation, with funding and recruit volunteers.

In partnership with the council and voluntary sector representatives it will also consult the voluntary groups on what they would like to see provided as a permanent replacement.

Harrow Association of Voluntary Services (HAVS) had its funding of £92,000 suspended by Harrow council after PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) uncovered financial irregularities at the charity.

PWC uncovered that unauthorised bonuses had been handed out to HAVS staff, including £30,000 to the chief executive.