Time is running out for Smash charity (From Swindon Advertiser)

Time is running out for Smash charity

8:50am Monday 1st March 2010 in

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A CHARITY that gives hope to troubled teenagers has just one month to find the money needed to prevent its closure.

Smash – the Swindon Mentoring And Self Help project – faces closure at the end of March if it fails to find a financial backer.

Workers at the West Swindon-based project fear that if no source of funding is found by then it will be mothballed and wound up completely by July.

This would mean the break down of 35 relationships already formed between mentors and their teenage mentees.

It’s not the first time that the charity has faced a funding crisis, with the Adver highlighting their troubles just before Christmas. Now Smash has revealed it has already abandoned any future mentoring relationships, despite a healthy demand, because they do not want to let the youngsters down.

Smash chair of trustees, Toby Robson, said: “Smash has got a really good legacy with 10 years worth of experience.

“We know from children’s testimonials that what we do makes a difference, but unless somebody comes out of the woodwork all that will have to come to a close.

“It will be heartbreaking for some people, I’m absolutely sure about that, but what can we do?

“Sadly our hands are tied.”

The 10-year-old SMASH project trains volunteers to mentor vulnerable teenagers.

The charity works with teenagers on a variety of issues from bereavement to issues at school to withdrawal or lack of confidence.

Children are referred from a variety of organisations including social services, schools, Swindon council and the Youth Offending Team.

The charity was first funded by government, then the european social fund.

It faced narrowly escaped closure in 2007, when it was saved by a £492,000 grant from the National Lottery.

Despite a £25,000 grant from Alcatel-Lucent in December last year, Mr Robson said the current situation was already more critical than it was three years ago.

He said the irony was that the service is currently over subscribed with 40 children on the waiting list and referrals coming in at the rate of one a day.

Several applications have fallen through in the last week, but SMASH is still waiting on five applications.

Mr Robson said without the Smash support system most of the mentoring relationships will have to end.

With no backer, beyond March the charity will only operate using some of its limited funds from specific organisations to run short-term projects, but beyond July all operations will cease.

Up until this point Mr Robson said it was still feasible to resurrect the service if funding was made available.

Mr Robson said the charity trustees have been meeting regularly to make contingency preparations for redundancies if the worst happens.

“We’re desperately hoping it doesn’t come to that,” he said.

“Our success has spread throught the community through word of mouth.

“We’re being optimistic and hoping we’re not leading anyone into false expectation – we haven’t given up.

“Pretty much the first thing when we get in is where are we with the latest funding application.

“We’re monitoring the situation very closely.”

If you can help call 01793 879297, email smash.yproject@swindon.gov.uk or visit the website www.smash-youth-project.co.uk