Totton-based charity It's Your Choice set to close next week

The Totton-based It's Your Choice is planning to shut its doors on April 7 - despite seeing a 45 per cent increase in demand for its services.

The economic impact of the pandemic has left the organisation short of donations and other sources of finance.

Totton councillors and It's Your Choice staff in happier times.

Mike Taylor, chairman of trustees, said: “We have explored all opportunities to identify funding and held off making this decision until it was clear that no agency, and no major Trust or donor, would provide us with the income needed.

"This is despite making a strong case for funding and providing details of the damaging impact the ending of all our services will have."

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Totton councillor David Harrison added: "The loss of this service is a body blow to the community that will likely have long-term consequences.

"Losing It's Your Choice means more pressure on remaining services that are already under great strain and some people failing to get the support they need."

Alex Martin, wellness lead at one of the New Forest's biggest schools, issued a similar warning.

She said: "The impact of no longer having It's your Choice coming into the New Forest Academy will have a huge detrimental effect.

"I am very concerned already about mental health across young people, not only within our school but in the wider community."

Julian Lewis, Tory MP for New Forest East, will ask the Totton-based Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust if it can step in.Totton-based It's Your Choice is set to close next week after running out of money.

Dr Lewis said: "A local medical practice alerted me to this serious impending loss of services for youngsters with mental health issues.

"I shall raise it with Southern Health urgently in case the case Trust can help this important charitable service to continue its valuable work.

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It's Your Choice will review its decision to close if it can secure sufficient funding.

In a statement it said: "Charities like It’s Your Choice provide a vital service to the community, supporting statutory services and preventing emotional health issues deteriorating."