NSPCC closes centre to save money

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is closing the last centre it has in Norfolk.

The centre operates from Hellesdon Park Road in Norwich and employs five staff helping 200 families a year cope with domestic abuse.

But because of financial cutbacks the NSPCC said it will have to close the £260,000 a year service in January.

It will maintain its telephone helpline Childline and collect information with the help of health visitors.

'Vulnerable will suffer'

The NSPCC's director for south and east England Safron Rose said: "It's regrettable that we've had to make such a decision. The reason for that is the economic downturn."

She said charity the needed to make sure that all its services were sustainable for the future and that meant they had to make some cuts including the closure of the Norwich service.

Phil Burton, the chairman of the east Norfolk branch of the NSPCC - which raises £60,000 a year for the charity, said: "The vulnerable are going to suffer in immeasurable numbers by an immeasurable amount."

He said people are rethinking the amount they give to charity as financial pressures grow.

He added: "I hope that other agencies can pick up where the NSPCC has left off."