Cromer addict centre's cash battle

Victoria LeggettA cash-strapped centre for addicts is committed to supporting troubled north Norfolk people - even if it means fundraising for years to come, its director said.Victoria Leggett

A cash-strapped centre for addicts is committed to supporting troubled north Norfolk people - even if it means fundraising for years to come, its director said.

The Junction, in Cromer, has been left with a �40,000 funding gap each year after its original money pot ran out in September 2008.

Money from charitable trusts, individual donors and NHS Norfolk helped it avoid immediate closure but it does not cover the full �100,000-a-year running costs - leaving volunteers to fundraise to meet the shortfall.

Julian Bryant, director of The Matthew Project which runs The Junction, said the centre's staff and helpers continued to contact other charitable trusts and organisations to try to secure some more permanent funding.

But he added that, even if it meant holding fundraising events for the foreseeable future, the centre would try its best to remain there for north Norfolk people.

Mr Bryant said: 'We think the service is really needed in the district and we will keep working to the last penny to keep it going. We will keep fundraising and fighting, doing what we can.

'Whether we have to change the way we do things, whether we have to use more volunteers, we are committed to keeping it going.'

He said the ideal situation would see a statutory agency or charitable trust come forward with a guaranteed sum to help them remain open each year.

In the mean time, several fundraising events are in the pipeline to keep the much needed money coming in.

To help with fundraising or find out more about The Junction, contact the centre on 01263 510900.