Decluttering service for vulnerable people to shut

A group that helps vulnerable people declutter their homes is to close after 14 years.

Lofty Heights CIC, which is based in Ipswich and operates in Suffolk and Norfolk, has announced it will shut at the end of June.

Chief executive Christian Bone, who said it had been an "extremely tough" decision, cited increased costs as one of the reasons.

He said staff would work to ensure clients were passed to other groups so they could still access support.

"I think, like a lot of charities and community interest companies, Lofty Heights is very much reliant on support from the local community, from local government and also from through funding such as grants from the lottery and other organisations," he explained.

"As a sort of charitable organisation, you're only as good really as your next grant, and times are tough at the moment. It's extremely competitive out there.

"There are lots of charities doing work and there's less funding to go around as well and, unfortunately, we've got that combination of an increase in costs, which is affecting a lot of organisations, and then simply not having that funding to make up the difference."

Lofty Heights worked to declutter, clear and clean the homes of vulnerable adults to help them live safety and independently.

It also offered young people not in education, employment or training programmes the chance to develop their skills and gain experience.

"There are companies out there who will do clearance work, but what makes Lofty unique is that sort of human touch," Bone said.

"We'll talk to people, we'll ask them how they feel about the whole process, we'll make that journey easier for them because sometimes it is difficult to let go of things, and that's where Lofty was always good at helping out."

He added: "The most important thing, as far as I'm concerned, is making sure that the customers and the vulnerable people... still get the support that they need."

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