Uncertain future for Llandudno and Colwyn Bay based Cam Ymlaen

Dec 18 2008 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

A SERVICE which helps people with mental health problems to access training and find work has had a stay of execution.

But the agony of not knowing the long-term future of Llandudno and Colwyn Bay based Cam Ymlaen drags on, according to director John Yates.

Health minister Edwina Hart has said she will provide funding to meet the costs of the service until the end of February. But Mr Yates says staff have been given notice their jobs will cease then because there is still no long-term finance on the horizon.

“In January and February we will be going through a winding-down process and staff have been given redundancy notices to take effect on February 28, so although we are grateful for this respite the agony of not knowing what will happen in the long term continues,” he said.

Cam Ymlaen was faced with the prospect of closing down at the end of this month after two sources of European funding dried up.

“We have applied for new funding and the applications were due to be considered in January but we have now been told this won’t happen until April which could be too late to save our service.

“We are in talks with Conwy Local Health Board and social services but so far haven’t been able to agree anything with them,” added Mr Yates.

Clwyd West AM Darren Millar approached Edwina Hart with a plea for the Assembly to bail the service out.

“Whilst I welcome the extra support which has been given following my request, I am concerned that Cam Ymlaen will still face a black hole in their funding at the end of February if a more permanent arrangement cannot be agreed.

“Conwy county cannot afford to lose the services provided by this organisation, its closure would leave a huge gap in provision. There are hundreds of vulnerable people who have benefited from the support given to them by Cam Ymlaen.”