A CENTRE which helps some of Oxford's most vulnerable people is being forced to cut jobs and trim its services after a bid for £300,000 of National Lottery funding was rejected.

For the last three years, The Steppin' Stone Centre for homeless and vulnerably housed people has received £100,000 a year from the Lottery.

But a bid to renew the funding for the next three years was turned down - and five workers are being made redundant.

People and projects manager Al Bell said: "I am being made redundant and four casual workers are being made redundant.

"That will reduce our costs and we are trimming our services while we seek alternative sources of funding. There will be some reduction to the number of hours the service is open and some of the development work and one-to-one work will stop."

Meals, showers and laundry the centre provides will not be affected.

But other services, including a computer skills course and one-to-one support,will have to be trimmed until alternative cash can be found.

Miss Bell said the one-to-one work included CV writing, help with housing and helping members sort out issues in their lives.

She said: "We work with people who really want to get back on their feet."

The centre is open day times, evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays including Christmas. It is totally drug and alcohol free.

Miss Bell added: "We are also funded by Oxford City Council, private trusts and individual churches and schools across Oxfordshire, and really value that."

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