SERVICES for the mentally ill in Winchester and Fareham have today been thrown into turmoil with the shock closure of a charity that funds vital training.

The Winchester Alliance for Mental Health (WAMH) has today announced it will be going into liquidation because of insufficient funding, leaving scores of vulnerable people uncertain about their future.

It is thought the Bird In Hand activity centre will close today and the Byte Internet Cafe, both on Parchment Street, will shut next Wednesday.

Staff and users at the Skillploy training centre in Fareham which is also funded by the WAMH were due to be told this morning on the day of their Christmas party. A meeting of trustees will be held at the Bird in Hand next Friday to discuss the future and take the decision to close. A meeting with creditors will be held immediately afterwards.

Some 300 people with mental health problems will be affected and around 20 staff will lose their jobs.

In Winchester users reacted with dismay. Paul Mariner, who has been a member of the Bird in Hand for three years, told the Daily Echo: "We are all shellshocked. Everyone is in deep shock because it's quite a big part of the community. It's not just the members, it's the staff as well.

"We were all told about it today. This is going to have a devastating effect on the community. Members here are very upset about it."

Andrew Malster, 21, of Lynford Way, Weeke, said today he was hoping to study for an NVQ at the Byte, which is also popular with members of the public.

Mr Malster said: "I'm upset. I have been coming here for quite a while and was starting my NVQ. Now I can't finish it off. I don't know what I'm going to do."

The alliance is a charity but also a company limited, set up in 1997.

In a statement issued today, it said: "It is with great regret that the trustees of the alliance have had to close it down to its users.

"The alliance was set up to help vulnerable people in society to gain confidence and self-esteem in various vocational training courses in a supportive environment.

"Due to insufficient funding to help sustain this work the alliance will reluctantly have to close its doors.

"We are continuing to explore with other appropriate agencies ways for maintaining services for our users."

Ann Craig, chairman of trustees, said today: "We are devastated. The people we care for are vulnerable people. But a lack of funding made it impossible to carry on."

The alliance is helped financially by Winchester City and Hampshire County council. A city council spokesman said: "We are hugely disappointed that the centre has to close."