THE NSPCC is being urged not to let the closure of its Omagh office detract from the service the children’s charity provides in the local area.
The NSPCC base on Omagh’s Sedan Avenue was established over ten years ago and employs four workers but will close in March.
A spokesperson for the NSPCC has vowed that local staff will not lose their jobs and will be redeployed within the charity. The closure is to be implemented as a cost cutting measure. The charity is 80 per-cent publicly funded.
Among these services the Omagh branch provides are liaising independent volunteer visitors for children and organising practitioners to deal with young people who are displaying a potential for harmful sexual behaviour.
SDLP councillor Josephine Deehan is a medical practitioner and described the closure of the local office as “a shame”.
“I know the NSPCC do invaluable work in the field of child protection, “ she said. “I have had the pleasure of working with them and it is a shame the centre in Omagh has to close although I recognise there are financial pressures.
“The resources do need to be channelled into front-line services. It is important that the staff remain and that they still put their activities into this locality where I am aware there are families at risk who need support.”
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