Breast Cancer Haven in Titchfield announces it will close permanently

Charity Breast Cancer Haven has shared the news that its Wessex support centre in The Square in Titchfield will not reopen due to a 50 per cent drop in voluntary income caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was also announced that there will be redundancies, although no further information has been shared on how many staff will be affected.

A charity centre in the West Midlands will also close.

Sally Hall, chief executive of Breast Cancer Haven said: ‘When lockdown began, we took immediate and decisive steps to reduce the financial impact of the Covid-19 crisis by all staff taking a 20 per cent reduction in salary and using the Government furlough scheme. While these measures helped in the short term, the longer-term impact of the loss of income has put the future of the charity at risk.

‘The decision to close two of our centres has not been taken lightly. Unfortunately, the financial conditions imposed by the pandemic have left us very little choice, and we must put the people who have breast cancer and their families at the heart of our decisions, to ensure we are able to be there for them in the future.’

Back in March, the charity launched a urgent donation appeal as they said they faced a £900,000 shortfall due to the cancellation of fundraising events because of Covid-19.

In April more than 70 per cent of staff had been furloughed at the Titchfield centre.Sally added: ‘We are the only breast cancer charity in the UK doing this vital work and although we might look different; our charity will continue to provide essential emotional, practical and physical support to the people who need us.”‘A redundancy consultation process is commencing with all those staff affected by the closures. We will be devastated to see any of our colleagues go and I want to thank them for working so hard to ensure the highest level of care has always been given to the people who use our services.’

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Help and support will continue to be available remotely for all those affected by breast cancer over the telephone and online.

Online support classes, workshops and 1:1 therapies will continue as normal.

Breast Cancer Haven in Tichfield was part of a network of five centres around the UK, offering breast cancer patients ten free hours of supportive therapy time, as well as two hours with a specialist nurse.Were you receiving treatment or support at the Breast Cancer Haven in Titchfield or are you a member of staff affected? Contact our health reporter at [email protected]