THREE charities in Castle Point will be able to carry on their vital work after Castle Point Council announced it would continue backing them for another year.

Despite having its budget cut for a second consecutive year, by about £600,000, the council has announced it will be spending £132,800 to support the Castle Point Citizens Advice Bureau, the Castle Point Association of Voluntary Services, and Crossroads.

This is an increase on last year’s £126,700, a trend which the council hopes will continue until at least 2016.

Volunteers for the three charities are overjoyed by the news.

Kirsty O’Callaghan, chief executive of the Castle Point Assoc-iation of Voluntary Services, said: “We are absolutely delighted by the news. It means that we can continue to provide help and support for people across the borough.

“As a charity, acquiring funding is always a challenge, so we have to diversify our funding to ensure that we have sustainability and are more self-sufficient.

“However, this funding will be of great benefit to us and is a testimony to the great partnership we have with the council.”

May Darke, scheme manager at Crossroads, said: “I think it is fantastic.

“We are always facing cuts in our funding so to know that this funding is secure is brilliant. It means we can continue providing support to carers in the Castle Point district and plan for the future.

Jeffrey Stanley, deputy leader of the council, said: “It is very important for us to continue funding the bodies we put money to.

“They provide a vital service for the people of Castle Point, and it is great to be able to increase the amount of funding we are giving them, and keep up the promises we made to them last year.”

The decision was made at a full council meeting, at the council offices, last week.