A FUNDING crisis could mean the closure of a Ribble Valley volunteering scheme despite its increased success over the last year.

The Volunteering Development Project, part of the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Council for Voluntary Service, has seen over 300 inquiries from potential volunteers in the last 12 months.

But project funding, currently provided by the Community Fund, formerly the National Lotteries Charities Board, runs out in March with staff working hard to find around £200,000 to continue the work for the next three years.

Ribble Valley volunteering development officer Helen Barton-Hanson said: "We are looking for other sources of funding for the project, but sadly this is a situation which is occurring throughout the voluntary sector. The Council for Voluntary Services, though, will continue at local level, whatever the outcome."

She added: "The problem has occurred with a decrease in people buying lottery tickets, and an increase in the numbers applying for Community Fund grants. It has been well publicised that the fund's money pot has reduced by around a third." Yet despite funding worries, the project has been a great success, with a significant increase in the numbers of people wanting to become volunteers.

Helen said: "The project recruits volunteers on behalf of other organisations, and we have had over 300 inquiries from potential volunteers, showing that the Ribble Valley is going from strength to strength.

"We wondered if we could maintain the high level of interest in voluntary work, year after year, but there are still lots of people out there who want to help local communities."

The findings are published in the project's annual report, which summarises it's work during the last year, including training sessions and the successful launch of the volunteer certificate scheme. Statistics show there are still more women volunteers than men but the gap is closing.

The outbreak of foot and mouth has had a great impact on the project. Helen said: "Staff felt it inappropriate to carry out outreach work in the villages at a time when movement around rural areas was being strongly discouraged, and also that is it was unlikely that local people would be interested in volunteering at such a difficult time."

"The numbers of volunteers in these areas did fall, but in recent weeks local conservation groups have been getting back to work and it is hoped that rural activity will begin to increase again."

The project is run by three members of staff and has over 600 potential volunteers on its contacts list. Although it does not use volunteers itself, its aim is to find them for other services and organisations.

Current positions available are for Relate receptionists, pre-school assistants, youth offender panels, conservation, luncheon club servers and cook, Caring Neighbourhood, drivers and special constables.

Anyone who would like a copy of the report, or is interested in volunteering, should contact Helen at the project office in Swan Mews, off Castle Street, Clitheroe, on 01200 422721.