A Cheshire-based Mind charity has closed with immediate effect due to a “lack of sufficient ongoing funding”.

Mind Halton, which is based in Runcorn, closed last week (30 August), with a statement from trustees saying that the charity is “no longer financially viable”.

The statement said: “The challenging economic climate coupled with a lack of sufficient ongoing funding means that we must close with immediate effect.”

The mental health charity, which is part of the national Mind network but is registered independently, has appointed the insolvency firm Kirks to place it into administration.

According to the charity’s latest accounts filed with the Charity Commission, it recorded a total income of £149,127 during the financial year to the end of March 2023. It recorded an expenditure of £152,170 – amounting to a deficit of about £3m.

Most of the charity’s income came from grants during this period, including two grants from Halton Borough Council, amounting to a total of £51,750.

During the same period, the charity had an average of five employees, the accounts show. The charity’s administrators have yet to confirm how many redundancies were made as a result of the closure.

The trustees’ statement said that the charity was “working hard” to support staff and volunteers affected by its closure and to make sure its service users continued to receive the support they need.

They said that service users have been provided with alternative provisions to contact, but added that the charity had been unable to find direct replacements for its services.

“This is an incredibly difficult time for everyone affected, particularly our members of staff, volunteers and service users, who are at the heart of everything we do. 

“We extend our sincere thanks to all those who have worked hard to deliver the much-valued services we have provided, and to the many who have raised funds to help sustain our work,” they said.

Days after Mind Halton’s closure another local Mind charity, Northamptonshire Mind, flagged concerns about funding cuts to the BBC, urging the public to donate to the charity amid high demand for its services.

The national charity Mind, which is a network of more than 100 local charities, said it is working as a federation to address the funding challenges facing its member charities.

Aidan Mersh, associate director of federation support at Mind, said: “The economic climate since the end of the pandemic has created significant challenges for charities across the UK. Local authorities and the NHS are under pressure to reduce public spending. 

“This can lead to some services becoming financially unviable for local Minds to deliver, and at times difficult decisions have had to be made so the support local Minds do deliver can be of the highest quality.”

Mersh said that every local Mind delivers an essential service and the federation is “committed to ensuring we continue to deliver the vital support and information”.

He added: “What is clear is we need more investment in mental health services and the wider voluntary care sector, to ensure everyone can get the help they need.”

Kirks, Mind Halton’s administrators, have been contacted for comment.