A CHARITY which supports recovering drug and alcohol addicts is to close at the end of the month after losing its Government funding.

Inishfree - a supported housing programme in Woodchester – has been running on reserves since March when its annual £144,000 grant was scrapped.

Despite crisis talks with patrons and the trust which owns the building, 12 members of staff and six volunteers will lose their jobs and four recovering addicts will lose their home.

Counsellor and mentor Alastair Myers said: "We just didn’t have enough time to come up with a solution.

"Since we found out we were losing the grant in November we have been living with real hope but now that hope is gone.

"It is incredibly sad and tragic that this community is coming to an end.

"Inishfree changes lives. We look after people who would otherwise be out on the streets seriously ill and causing society serious problems."

The project, which was set up in Slad in 2003, moved to Woodchester in 2007 and over the years has helped around 150 ‘trainees’, as clients are called.

Inishfree is unique because it provides opportunities for recovering addicts to develop expertise in vocational trades and learn life skills.

Trainees live on site for up to two years, grow their own vegetables, learn to cook and look after animals, paying for therapy through selling firewood.

Staff say the charity needs just £150,000 a year to continue.

"We need a knight in shining armour," said Mr Myers.

"Unfortunately it is not a popular charitable cause but if there is someone in Gloucestershire who feels passionately about what we do we want to talk to them urgently.

"If we had the money for one year then we would have time to source long term funding and really make a go of our own fundraising."

To support Inishfree call 01453 873624, for more information about the charity visit www.inishfree.org.uk