An LGBTQ+ health charity has announced its closure after operating for more than 40 years due to financial challenges.
Metro Charity, which supported LGBTQ+ communities in London and the south east England, announced this morning that it would be closing on 31 March.
It described in a statement on social media a “prolonged period of financial pressure and an extensive review of its future sustainability”.
Metro said its trustees had undertaken more than 18 months of work to stabilise the charity’s financial position and explore “all viable options” to secure its future.
The charity added that its closure “reflects wider challenges across the voluntary sector, particularly within health and youth services”, citing funding constraints, changes to commissioning, and rising demands.
Metro’s chair, Dawn Brown, said: “We know this news will be deeply upsetting for our staff, volunteers, partners and service users, and our priority now is to ensure a responsible and compassionate wind-down.
“We will be working closely with partners to support the continuity of services wherever possible.”
The charity’s accounts for the most recent financial year are currently overdue by 54 days.
Its accounts for the year ending 31 March 2024 showed an income of £4.5m and expenditure of £5.1m, with 94 employees on average.
Its 2023-24 report stated that the charity was “in a good financial position” and that it had spent extra money that year on a cost-of-living increase for staff, among other things.
The charity also reported a deficit in the previous financial year ending 31 March 2023, with an income of £4.85m and an expenditure of £5m.
