Platform 51, formerly the YWCA, is being forced to close three of its 15 centres in an attempt to tackle its persistent budget deficit.

The branches in Plymouth, Northampton and Truro will all close, and there will be further redundancies at Platform 51’s headquarters in Oxford.    

In addition, the charity will sell its building in Cwmarven and move to an outreach model there, and the Bilston centre in Wolverhampton will merge with neighbouring Warstones and operate from the Warstones site.

Platform 51 provides a range of services to young women from its centres, including drop-in sessions where they can take part in activities, get advice on jobs and training, or talk to project workers about issues troubling them.  The charity also runs services though local schools.

According to accounts filed with the Charity Commission, spending has outstripped income at the charity for each of the last five years.  In the most recent financial year, to 31 March 2011, income totalled £4.8m while expenditure was £6.8m.  The year before, income was £4.7m and spending was just over £7m.

Chair of trustees, Helen Wollaston, blamed the wider economic recession for the organisation’s recent problems.

“Platform 51 ended last year with a substantial financial deficit and this is simply not sustainable.

“During the past year, we have looked at different ways to save money including through increased efficiency, by not replacing people who leave and other cost savings.  We now need to review the structure of the charity to ensure that we can continue to deliver services, provide a voice for our girls and women and that we, as an organisation, are financially viable, just like any other organisation needs to be.

“This charity has been supporting girls and women for over 150 years and we plan to continue supporting them for another 150 years.”

She said the charity has just concluded the first phase of a thorough consultation with staff and trade union representatives about the “best and most affordable structure” to secure its future.  She could not say how many job losses there would be.

“We are now entering a period of individual consultation with staff whose jobs are affected. We are not able to make any further comments until this process has concluded.”

The YWCA England & Wales rebranded as Platform 51 in late 2010.