What’s happening at the Comfrey Project?

Updates
Gateshead Volunteers Month & Refugee Week 2018 Event

The Comfrey Project has reached a funding crisis point. It has become increasingly hard to access funds and whilst we are awaiting decisions on a number of applications, we are in a position that if these grants do come through they are not going to come in time.

We have had to take the very difficult, but unavoidable decision to serve all of our staff with redundancy notices.

We are still solvent and have every intention of continuing the very important work of the Project. Our incredibly committed staff have offered to continue to work voluntarily, so along with extra input from trustees and our dedicated group of volunteers we believe we can keep the Project going.

We have immediately put into action some short term funding appeals to our database of supporters to request help for participants’ bus fares and the minimal running costs of the Centre, with the aim of running two sessions a week throughout the winter months for thirty people each.

Trustees are actually feeling very positive about the future of the Project and our plans for the Centre. We are viewing this as an opportunity to plan effectively and efficiently for the future using the large amount of feedback we received from participants, stakeholders, other local groups and the local community during our consultation events over the summer.

We are continuing with our plans to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) which has just been entered into the Register of Charities with the Registered Charity Number 1175224. Over the coming few weeks we will therefore be winding up The Comfrey Project charity and switching over to our new status.

If you have any questions please do feel free to email me.

Jo Price
Chair of Trustees
trustee@thecomfreyproject.org.uk