New blow hits Henshaws but help is on hand from another Harrogate charity

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The charity has nine houses, seven in Harrogate, one in Knaresborough and one in Gateshead, all of which offer twenty-four hour support for forty-seven disabled adults.

Henshaws will transfer the service to a Harrogate-based company, namely Homes Together who have operated in the Harrogate District for the past 16 years.

Henshaws' chief executive Nick Marr said: “We are very distressed to have had to make this decision, but we can no longer sustain the costs of our residential services. We will do everything we can to ensure continuity for our residents.

“Work has been under way for some time and continued during COVID-19 to improve the service’s sustainability.

"We have been working with a number of local authorities to review and increase the fees for individual’s placements and daytime occupations.

"However, despite many months of effort, it has not sufficiently improved the overall financial position to support the service in the long term.

“The coronavirus pandemic has further increased financial pressures across the whole of our provision for disabled young people and adults, so with great reluctance we have decided we can no longer provide this service.

“It is critical to Henshaws that the service remains intact and continues with a recognised provider.

"Therefore, we are very pleased that a decision has been made to transfer the Henshaws Residential services to Homes Together, a local provider in Harrogate.

"Steve Jones who runs the company was previously a Principal at Henshaws College, and many of his former students now live in the residential service.”

Henshaws is inviting service users, parents and carers of those who use the service to take part in face-to-face or virtual meetings to raise any questions they may have about the transfer of the service.

All the staff from Henshaws residential services are being offered the opportunity to transfer on their existing terms and conditions.

North Yorkshire County Council have been informed and fully support the decision.

Henshaws had already given notice that it would cease to provide its supported living service in Harrogate and that service is to be taken over by North Yorkshire County Council.

This year has also seen the charity announce that the much-loved Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre at Bond End in Knaresborough was staying closed for the forseeable future because of the financial situation during the pandemic, though it has pledged to try to bring it back in some form.

Henshaws answers questions on closure of arts and crafts centre in Knaresborough

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