A CHILDREN’S counselling charity could close if it does not secure enough funding.

Counselling Direct, in Crompton Street, Bury, was set up in 2001 to provide free counselling for young people aged five to 25 and their parents.

The charity survives on a small budget mainly made up of grants from organisations such as the National Lottery and Comic Relief.

Around £98,000 per year is needed to keep the charity going, but only £40,000 has been secured so far this year.

After several funding applications were recently rejected, the future looks uncertain for the charity.

Project manager Angela Cuddihy said: “If we don’t receive a grant soon we will have to close. We are already warning our clients it is a real possibility. Our counsellors are doing everything they can to find the money and people have organised fund-raising events.”

The charity was set up in 2001 with just two counsellors, but has quickly expanded to four employed counsellors and 10 volunteers.

They hold one-to-one sessions with children who have been referred by schools, social services, the youth offending team and Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT).

Mrs Cuddihy believes there would be a massive gap in services for young people if the charity had to close.

She would like to hear from anyone interested in making a donation or helping to obtain grants. She can be contacted by sending an email to a.cuddihy@bury.gov.uk