Vital East Preston charity saved by merger

ICIS based, in Worthing Road, had faced a severe crisis after West Sussex County Council axed a £150,000 a year support contract last year.

The drastic cuts amounted to almost 80 per cent of the information service’s total funding.

The service was at a critical stage. Its chief executive admitted that she had already started action to sell the site with a view to closing it by January, with the loss of all jobs.

However, on Wednesday (August 7) the charity announced it had merged with the Helplines Partnership – much to the relief of staff.

“It was a desperate time for us,” explained Liz Hall, former chief executive of ICIS who is now the director of information for Helplines Partnership. “We had reached a stage where we feared we would have to close.

“It was very sad, that after 18 years providing essential information services for residents across Sussex, we were faced with this situation.”

Liz said that the organisation scraped by on their remain cash reserves while searching for a way to save the company.

“We were determined to stay in business,” she added.

Now, the charity faces exciting times through the new partnership.

“After a year of uncertainty about our future, the merger with Helplines Partnership enables us to continue delivering our information service in West Sussex, and brings exciting opportunities to develop new services in West Sussex and throughout the UK.”

Theodore Spyrou, chief executive of Helplines Partnership, said: “Joining forces with ICIS will help us provide comprehensive information portals to our wider membership of helpline service providers.”

For more details about ICIS and the Helplines Partnership, call 0800 859929 or visit here.