CRAVEN Volunteer Centre in Skipton has closed after losing its funding to another organisation.

Set up in 1992 as Craven Voluntary Action, the Otley Street based organisation became an independent charity in 2003.

It failed in its bid to secure funding last year and as a result, the charity trustees decided after serving the community for 25 years, they had no option but to close.

Its work will now be undertaken by the newly formed Community First Yorkshire, based near York.

Alex Dewar, chairman of the trustees, said the centre had provided a valuable service to the people of Craven for many years, but that the lack of future funding had left trustees with no option but to close.

"I would like to thank our volunteers and staff who have worked so enthusiastically to support the people and charities of Craven," he said.

"Regrettably, due mainly to a lack of future funding the trustees have had to take the unwelcome decision to cease trading and apply for a winding up. The decision to wind up was taken only as a last option where there were no other viable options available to the trustees.”

The charity's main purpose was to link volunteers with organisations across the area, to promote volunteering and to provide information, advice and training to groups on volunteer management.

In the past the charity has operated a volunteer car scheme, a dog walking service, a Good Neighbour and Home from Hospital Scheme, and a DIY and gardening service for older and disabled people.

More recent projects have included working with businesses to encourage employer-supported volunteering, promoting voluntary work within schools and colleges and providing a supported volunteering scheme for people who faced barriers in society.

The core funding for the charity came from North Yorkshire County Council and North Yorkshire NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups.

After a new process for funding was brought in last year, the charity formed a partnership with other infrastructure service providers across the county, but the funding was awarded to Rural Action Yorkshire which is merging with North Yorkshire and York Forum.

From the start of April, the newly named Community First Yorkshire, based at Askham Bryan near York, will provide the service, working with organisations across the whole of North Yorkshire.

A celebration to mark the end of both Craven Volunteer Centre and Craven Community Voluntary Services (Craven CVS) was attended by many member organisations. It was also attended by Leah Swain, chief executive of Rural Action Yorkshire who gave a presentation and answered questions from the audience.