Decline in funding forces north-west charity to close

Play Raffles - a charity based in Carlisle - has been forced to close after failing to raise enough funds.

According to the Cumberland News, the organisation needs £70,000 per year to survive, but has not been able to secure the cash in the last 12 months due to a decline in charitable investments.

Various lottery funds have provided funding over the last six years, but recent fundraising efforts have not produced enough to sustain the charity and five jobs are now set to be lost.

Established in 1995, Play Raffles has provided pre-school, after-school and holiday clubs that have benefited around 2,000 families in the north-west.

But lead worker Diana Lamb was quoted by the publication as stating: ’The organisations that give out grants are probably finding they have not got as much to go out because they are probably not getting as much back from their investments.’

Last month, the Charities Aid Foundation revealed that donations to UK charities have declined by 11 per cent over the last year.
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