Published at 09:05, Monday, 30 July 2012

MAY I make some small amendments to your report of the funding received from the Big Lottery by SixtyEightyThirty (Courant, July 20).

This funding will pay for the posts of our therapeutic lead, our business and finance officer and a new post of business manager who will work one day per week.

In this day and age it is vital that charities are professional and business-like in order to meet the high standards that our funders quite rightly require. What is often referred to as ‘back office’ work is in fact central to the efficient running of SixtyEightyThirty.

The figure you quoted of 167 new referrals this year is in fact the number we received in 2011. This year’s figures are nearly three weeks ahead of the comparable period last year, so that we are continuing the trend of a 10-15 per cent increase in new referrals each year. Women continue to come to us with complex needs that require individual assessment and a structured plan of support if they and their children are to be kept safe.

When charities receive large grants it can often seem that they do not have to secure further funding.

It is only with the terrific support we already receive locally and from smaller trusts that we can continue our work and pay our bills. Emily Hadaway and Vicky Rowell are running for us in the Great North Run on September 16. If anyone would like to support them please visit our website, 608030.com, where donations can be made, direct debits set up and sponsorship forms downloaded.

GEORGIE CRUDDAS,

Chief executive,

SixtyEightyThirty,

Hexham

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk