jbullen@thekmgroup.co.uk

A cash-strapped homeless centre threatened with closure unless it can raise £50,000 has been given a three month lifeline.

Catching Lives in Station Road East will now remain open until the end of November after fears it may have to close at the end of August.

The charity’s financial struggles were exclusively revealed by the Gazette who revealed all reserves had been exhausted.

Service manager Terry Gore (pictured) said he was in talks with securing grants in excess of £10,000 which would keep the centre open until Christmas.

Following a board of trustees meeting on Wednesday he said emergency funding had been sourced but warned the centre’s future remains unclear.

He said: "This does not, of course, mean that the on-going financial crisis is solved.

"It simply gives Catching Lives a breathing space to put in place a new working strategy and investigate fully the viability of long-term funding options."

The centre, which opens during the week from 9am to 2pm, helps up to 30 homeless people a day with food, washing, health and housing advice as well as teaching employment skills.

A forum to discuss options has been set up at the centre on Tuesday at 6pm.