A total of 96 staff at Lowestoft-based Access Community Trust were told they were being made redundant during an emergency meeting with the board of trustees on Wednesday.

Vital community wellbeing hubs, cafés and support services across Suffolk and Norfolk were all closed as the charity that provides supported housing and community-based services for vulnerable people ceased trading with immediate effect.

Sam's Wellbeing Hub and Café in Lowestoft. Image: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

It is "likely to enter administration in the coming days," according to advisors.

The staff being made redundant were informed they would not be paid for their last month of work - leaving dozens worrying how they will pay their bills and meet their rent and mortgage payments.

The closures of a range of vital services that support vulnerable adults and young people across the region has also affected many isolated people, prompting emergency measures to be put into place as a multi-agency response is being led by East Suffolk Council.

Emma Ratzer speaking at the special event last July that saw Access Community Trust mark 50 years of transformative community support. Image: Submitted (Image: Sunrise Studios)

It has emerged that long-serving CEO Emma Ratzer MBE resigned last month, with the board of trustees placed in charge.

One whistleblower described the situation as "a catastrophic failure of a 50-year-old institution".

The immediate collapse of a charity that has provided a lifeline to the region’s homeless and most vulnerable residents since its formation in 1975 comes as another said it had totally overreached itself.

The Fyffe Centre on Belvedere Road, Lowestoft. Picture: Google Images (Image: Archant)

The 19-room Fyffe Centre in Belvedere Road - a supported housing scheme in Lowestoft, which was the trust's first-ever purpose-built hostel when it opened in 1980 - remains open.

Back in September 2024, the much-loved Sam's Wellbeing Hub and Café in Lowestoft unveiled a major transformation.

Inside Sam's Wellbeing Hub & Café in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

After opening in 2015, SAMS had provided direct support to over 1,000 people locally and provided more than 9,000 free meals to those in need within the café over a decade.

In November last year, the trust ended its tenancy agreement at the Venetian Waterways cafe and boating lake in Great Yarmouth amid funding pressures.

Access Community Trust took over the management of the Waveney Centre in Beccles in April 2024, with activities like those pictured held. (Image: Submitted (Image: Submitted)

Last month the Waveney Centre in Beccles - a vital community hub for people aged 55 and over in the area - paused its daily café and weekday walk-in refreshments service, but trust officials vowed the Waveney Centre had not "permanently closed".

The Olive Centre in Lowestoft. Picture: Access Community Trust (Image: Access Community Trust)

Now, that situation has changed - with further community hubs, groups and services running across Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Thetford, King's Lynn, Gorleston and Great Yarmouth all affected.

'Immediate priorities'

FRP Advisory Trading Limited - one of the UK’s largest independent business advisory firms - is now supporting Access Community Trust.

Richard Bloomfield and Chris McKay of FRP Advisory said the trust ceased trading on February 25.

They said: "The trust provides accommodation and care to 98 individuals across multiple supported housing locations, alongside operating wellbeing hubs, mental health support services and cafés."

The Access Community Trust website. Image: Access Community Trust (Image: Access Community Trust)

FRP and the trustees are working with local authorities and stakeholders "to ensure appropriate arrangements and funding is put in place" for continued care and support of individuals currently in supported housing.

They added: "Arrangements have been made at a number of the housing sites for alternate care providers to take over and employees transferred across."

With the trust employing 126 members of staff, 96 employees were made redundant on Wednesday.

They said: "The majority of other employees providing care at all but one of the housing services have been retained to provide ongoing care while a transfer of operations is explored and, or agreed.

"Ongoing care is still being provided at the other remaining property.

"FRP will support those employees affected with claims to the redundancy payments service once the trust is in administration."

Richard Bloomfield, partner at FRP, said: "Our immediate priorities are to work with local authorities and other key stakeholders to ensure appropriate arrangements remain in place for those currently in supported housing, and signpost alternate care for those reliant on the services that have ceased.

“We recognise the impact this situation will have those in the trust’s care, their families, employees and the wider community.

"We will support staff through the process and continue to engage closely with commissioners and other stakeholders as we assess the available options to mitigate the impact of the charity ceasing to trade on the local community.”

East Suffolk Council is leading a co-ordinated, multi-agency response to the development, involving its housing, legal, finance and procurement teams, alongside key external partners including Suffolk County Council and health partners.

The trust currently provides 87 bed spaces for homeless and rough sleeper services across East Suffolk.

The Access Community Trust website. Image: Access Community Trust (Image: Access Community Trust)

An East Suffolk Council spokesman said: "We are deeply concerned that all Access delivered services including Bridge View Day Centre, Sam’s Café and Employment Services are at risk of immediate closure, however we have made significant progress regarding beds.

"Our priority is to ensure that nobody is left without a safe place to stay or access to essential support services.

"Therefore, we have activated an emergency response plan to ensure that all vulnerable residents currently supported by Access Community Trust continue to receive safe and appropriate accommodation.

"Through working in partnership with recognised providers during the past 48 hours, we have been able to ensure 75 of the bed spaces will be retained and that residents will be able to remain, with an alternative, trusted support service.

"We have also agreed a short-term solution to the remaining 12 beds, meaning that no-one will be asked to leave their home on Wednesday."

The council said Access "is a significant local employer, with more than 200 staff and volunteers, many of whom have themselves experienced similar issues."

The spokesman added: "We are preparing to support staff wherever possible, and work is under way with partners to provide urgent advice and assistance to staff who may face sudden financial uncertainty due to unpaid wages or potential redundancies.

"Our overarching aim is to minimise hardship for everyone affected by this and we are entirely committed to safeguarding residents, supporting staff and maintaining essential services during this challenging period."

'Robust processes in place'

Suffolk County Council said they are working closely with the trust, health partners and East Suffolk Council "to ensure a co-ordinated, multi‑agency response to this situation."

A spokesman said: "Our immediate priority is the safety and wellbeing of people who rely on care and support services currently provided by the trust, either directly or through buildings it operates.

"We are actively identifying and putting in place appropriate alternative arrangements to ensure continuity of care and support and are contacting those directly impacted.

"Safeguarding remains paramount. We have robust processes in place and are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that no individual is left without the care or support they need during this period of uncertainty.

"We recognise that this is a worrying time for those who use these services, as well as for staff affected by the trust’s financial position.

"We will continue to work with partner organisations to minimise disruption and hardship and to maintain essential services for Suffolk residents."

Richard Watson, deputy chief executive of the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, said: "We are deeply concerned to hear about the situation regarding Access Community Trust.

"Our first concern is the wellbeing of those individuals who rely on services it provides.

"We are working to identify which patients use Access’s service and ensure they are provided with alternative support.

"We are also concerned about the likely financial impact this development will have on the staff who work at Access.

"We will continue to work with our local authority partners as part of our multi-agency response."

Alternate support is available from the following providers:

Norfolk and Waveney Mind - 0300 330 5488 - www.norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk (Monday - Friday)

Suffolk Mind – 0300 111 6000 - Suffolk Mind - Suffolk's independent mental health charity (Monday - Friday)

You can talk to Samaritans anytime on 116 123.

If you are under 19 you can contact Childline about anything, via 0800 1111.

If you need urgent mental health help, call 111 and choose option 2.

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