Just a year after celebrating its 21st anniversary, national charity Young People in Focus (YPF) has been forced to close due to the difficult financial climate.
YPF, previously called the Trust for the Study of Adolescence, provided research, training and publications to help increase understanding of young people and influence policy makers to provide better services for this demographic.
Throughout the years, YPF has been supported by the Camelot Foundation, Barrow Cadbury Trust, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Lloyds TSB amidst its many funders, but recently, "despite huge efforts" the charity has been unable to secure enough funding, said directors Kevin Lowe and Debi Roker:
"The current financial climate has made it too difficult for us to continue," they said in a joint statement. "Income from all sources - contracts for services, training course bookings, grants from funding bodies, and the sale of our publications, has dipped too much."
The charity's latest accounts filed with the Charity Commission show a drop in income of over £200,000 from 2008 - 2009. In 2009 the charity received £696,784 and spent £721,867. But in 2005 the charity received almost double that income, £1.34m and spent £1.27m.
YFP employed 11 staff, all of whom are currently looking for work, advised the directors. "We had excellent and very skilled staff, so we are hopeful that they'll be snapped up," they said.
YPF was responsible for many groundbreaking initiatives in communication with young people. Many of its ideas are now part of the remit of the Children's Workforce Development Council. YPF also pioneered the provision of accurate and up-to-date information for parents and carers including the audio tapes Teenagers in the Family, Step-Parenting and Teenagers and Divorce.
The charity has published a series of messages of support on its website. One, from the Barrow Cadbury Trust, reads: "We are so sorry that YPF has had to take the difficult decision to close. It's a real loss to the sector and a great shame that young people are losing such powerful, thoughtful advocates."
YPF publications and resources are being kept available on its website.
