- Author, Natalia Forero
- Role, Local Democracy Information Service
Funding for mental health wellbeing services in Hampshire is set to be cut despite concerns from charities about knock-on effects on waiting lists.
Hampshire County Council (HCC) has approved a cut in funding for wellbeing centres, which provide support to people recovering from mental health problems.
Mental health charity Solent Mind said it provided help “in times of need”.
The council said it faced “very difficult decisions” as it grapples with its projected £132m financial deficit by 2025/26.
All 13 centres are in the Hampshire local authority area and are non-clinical settings in easily accessible high street locations.
From the end of January 2025, funding will be reduced from £1,281,777 to £625,000.
Sally Arscott, chief executive of Solent Mind, said the centres provided safe spaces for emotional support, workshops, courses and activities.
She said the county council should take a “proactive approach” as the services help “reduce the burden faced by statutory services”, particularly children’s services.
The centres will no longer be able to provide the current level of individualised care, meaning people with complex needs “may not receive the level of help they need”, she added.
Ms Arscott said: “As a result of the proposal, the waiting list is currently over 100 people waiting up to eight or ten weeks, which will be much longer and put more pressure on them.”
Liz Fairhurst, the council’s executive member for adult social care and public health, acknowledged “how valuable” the centres were and stressed that none would be closed.
“Health and adult care services will offer these services free of charge. Even if we can’t provide all the money people want, we are giving them something in kind by doing this and giving the buildings a negligible rent,” he said.
