Staff at a children's charity have said they feel "massively let down" by the organisation after it shut down abruptly following its contract with Essex County Council being terminated last month.
Essex County Council (ECC) said that it terminated a contract with Parc (Essex) last month, after meeting with the charity’s acting chief executive and reviewing its accounts.
ECC had allocated grants to the charity but became aware of concerns about the organisation, based in Great Notley Country Park near Braintree, in February this year and launched an investigation.
The Charity Commission has an ongoing regulatory compliance case involving Parc "to examine concerns about its governance and financial management".
According to the regulator's website, Parc (Essex)’s accounts are overdue by 103 days.
The charity's most recent accounts, for the financial year ending 31 May 2020, show it employed around 65 staff, compared to 74 in 2019. Its total income was £614,980 in 2019-20, and total expenditure was £640,535.
According to the charity's website, it aims to provide play and recreation facilities for children with additional needs and short break care for their families and carers.
‘Our emails are still being ignored’
Staff said they had only an hour and a half’s notice that the charity was closing, according to a report by the BBC.
The former staff have now written an open letter, seen by the BBC, asking for answers as to why the organisation closed down so abruptly.
The letter said staff were only aware of the charity's closure 90 minutes before children were due to arrive.
They claimed the 65 former staff have yet to be paid for their last full month of work at the end of June.
The letter reads: "We have been massively let down and feel that we are owed an explanation as to why, after three weeks, our emails are still being ignored and the insolvency process of our beloved charity that we have worked so hard for has still not begun.
"Our formerly Parc families have been so incredibly supportive. It has been humbling to say the least to hear how they felt about Parc, and many a tear has been shed listening to them all.
"To hear of the children becoming so stressed and anxious they are experiencing physical pain and emotional distress breaks our hearts and we feel so helpless.”
Park (Essex) were not available for comment, and an email to the charity’s address bounced back.
'The council was left with no alternative'
An Essex County Council (ECC) spokesperson said: “Following a meeting with the acting chief executive and chair of Parc trustees, and Parc’s accountants, the council was left with no alternative other than to make the difficult decision to terminate the Short Breaks contract with Parc in order to ensure funding could be redirected to the benefit of families accessing the provision.
“ECC recognises the skills and support staff have offered to families for many years, and the decision bears no reflection on the standard of delivery, but in relation to the sustainability of Parc itself.”
The spokesperson added ECC was not involved in the timing of the announcement made to staff.
They said: “A team at the council has spoken directly with 140 families affected and they are working hard to source alternative provision.
“We are working with existing providers to create capacity to meet the varying needs of children and young people to offer a choice of clubs and activities. Some of that choice will be close to Braintree and other offers further away but with transport to get there. The priority is to ensure alternative provision will be in place in time for the summer holidays.
“We understand the pressures on families as well as the anxieties being experienced, and we are grateful for their patience while arrangements are finalised.”
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