AN EMPLOYMENT centre which helped thousands into work has closed due to government cuts.

Council-funded Radcliffe Works opened in 2009 to help residents get back into work and training.

Manager Rebecca Beese, who is now out of work herself, says the centre has helped save the government millions of pounds.

Mrs Beese, aged 48, said she was devastated over the closure.

She said: “We opened to help the residents get back into work and training.

“We have had thousands of people and we have saved the government millions through housing benefit and job seekers allowance. I know we have – people have come off benefits, they are not claiming them any more.”

Julia Holden, aged 53, said she had been going to Radcliffe Works on and off for the last two years as she suffers from range of illnesses including osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and vertigo.

She said: “Rebecca gave me the confidence to look what’s out there for me.

“Without her I wold have been in a blind panic, she’s been a real help, she directed me to courses I could do like sewing, computing and maths.”

Mrs Holden, of Kensington Avenue, said the closure was ‘a shame’ and felt nowhere else offered the same range of services all in one place. She said often if Mrs Beese did not know the answer she could find it in a few days.

Bury Council says the decision to cut funding is down to a range of similar services opening up in Radcliffe, which do not require council funding. During its time, Radcliffe Works helped people create their CVs, work on interview techniques and build people’s confidence.

Last week a celebration of the efforts by Radcliffe Works to get residents into jobs was held, where customers were given the chance to talk about how they had been helped.

A spokesman for Bury Council said: “Radcliffe Works was commissioned by Bury Council and opened its doors in 2009.

“It was established at a time of increasing unemployment rates in Radcliffe during the worldwide recession starting in 2008.

“It was also a council-led response to the closure of Jobcentre Plus in Radcliffe.

“ADAB have won the contract year on year since then, at a total cost of around £270,000. While Radcliffe Works has offered a good service to Radcliffe residents, there are a range of other similar services that are now available that do not rely on council funding.

“Greater Manchester (including Bury) has invested in its flagship programme Working Well which offers a ‘wraparound’ service to help unemployed people into jobs.

“In addition there are work clubs operating in Radcliffe, alongside the ‘Better Life for You’ service which operates from the Radcliffe Primary Care Centre.

“The National Careers Service also operates from community venues across Radcliffe giving independent careers advice.

“At a time of unprecedented budget cuts, and given the number of alternative services now available, the decision was taken to close Radcliffe Works in November 2016.

“The contract was extended by six months to ensure a smooth transition to other local provision and to support the centre manager to gain alternative employment.”