Voluntary Action Luton has closed down after 40 years of service.

The CVS, which supported around 400 voluntary and community groups in the Luton area, announced its closure on its website last week.

Geoff Bunce, senior community project officer at Groundwork Luton & Bedfordshire, told civilsociety.co.uk that a lot of small charities in Luton would not survive without the support of Voluntary Action Luton.

“Voluntary Action Luton provided support and advice, such as fundraising, which is vital for small organisations. It’s a great shame that it had to close down," he said.

“It’s quite political. I know that the council would have tried very hard to keep it going. Luton council are very good at supporting local community and voluntary groups but I guess they have not been able to support Voluntary Action Luton as much as they would have liked.”

A Luton Borough Council spokesperson said: “The council has supported and worked closely with Voluntary Action Luton on a number of initiatives over many years so it was disappointing to hear the news that they will be closing their operations. VAL currently receives £64,000 each year from the London Luton Airport Ltd. Community Fund.”

According to the charity’s most recent accounts for the year ending March 31 2012, it had an income of £595,128 but spending of £767,053. The charity employed seven people with two volunteers. 

In a statement, Voluntary Action Luton’s trustees said: “Regrettably, the organisation has not been able to withstand the current financial pressures that are being felt across all sectors and the board of trustees have made a very difficult decision to close the organisation’s operations. As a Board we have looked at a number of options to streamline service delivery, whilst seeking to maintain the high level of support to the wider sector that we have become accustomed to delivering.

“We are proud on reflection of the various networks and partnerships that we have worked with to be both a critical friend challenging issues on behalf of the sector and at other times providing insight and expertise to support the development of strategies and plans that have benefited organisations and the citizens of Luton.”