A community charity based on Bridge Street in Andover has issued an urgent appeal for public support after revealing it is facing serious financial difficulties that could force it to close its doors.
Andover Community Engage (ACE), which operates a wide range of projects supporting local people, says it is struggling to cover essential running costs and, without immediate help, may be unable to continue delivering many of its services.
The charity, led by Maria, currently provides a youth centre, community lounge, food pantry, community fridge, clothing bank, baby bank and a range of other initiatives designed to support residents across the town.
In an emotional video shared on social media, Maria explained that the charity has fallen behind on its rent and is now facing mounting financial pressures. You can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/anne-north-1?utm_medium=CF&utm_source=CL
She said the organisation has been unable to pay rent for the past two months and warned that it may soon be unable to cover other essential costs, including internet services and its entertainment licence. As a result, the charity says it is currently unable to open its youth centre in time for the summer holidays and fears closure could become a reality if its financial situation does not improve.
Despite the challenges, Maria stressed that demand for the charity’s services remains strong.
She said that if success were measured by the number of people helped or the range of services provided, the organisation would be thriving. Instead, she explained, the immediate challenge is simply keeping the roof over their heads and paying day-to-day bills.
The charity says it has Gift Aid payments outstanding and grant applications in progress, but those funds are not expected to arrive quickly enough to address the current crisis. Having already exhausted its financial reserves while continuing to provide services, the organisation says it has reached a critical point.
Maria explained that the charity has plans for longer-term sustainable funding but is struggling to bridge the gap until those opportunities become available.
As part of its appeal, Andover Community Engage is asking the public to support its social media campaign by liking, commenting on, sharing and bookmarking its videos. The charity says increased engagement helps its content reach more people and could generate valuable income through online platforms.
The organisation plans to continue sharing updates over the coming days as it works to secure its future.
Residents wishing to support the charity are encouraged to follow Andover Community Engage’s social media channels, engage with its content and help spread the word throughout the local community.