Jobs under threat at Hampshire Cultural Trust

Hampshire Cultural Trust has said as many as 20 people are facing redundancy as part of a restructuring process designed to safeguard its future.

The Winchester-based charity, which will become a member of the National Portfolio for the first time in April, said it is facing continuing pressures in relation to rising utility and wage costs.

The restructure is intended to help it reduce its costs and increase its focus on generating income.

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The trust, which currently employs 210 full-time and part-time members of staff, said it is looking to place people at risk into alternative roles within the organisation wherever possible.

It has been consulting with staff on the changes in recent weeks, and had been due to implement the restructure today (6 February) but has said that talks with some employees remain ongoing.

As part of the National Portfolio for the 2023-26 period, Hampshire Cultural Trust will receive £500,000 a year in funding from Arts Council England.

But Paul Sapwell, Chief Executive at Hampshire Cultural Trust, said this income is will not be used to reduce that charities core costs as it will be used to support the additional work in three of Arts Council England’s priority places in Hampshire – Gosport, Rushmoor and the New Forest.

"These [restructuring] changes unfortunately mean that we will have to make some very difficult decisions, but it is only by doing this that we will be able to continue to deliver high-quality arts and culture both for our communities and visitors to the county in the long term," Spadwell said.

"We have the full support of our founding local authorities, Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council, for this restructure and they have agreed not to reduce our grant in 2023/24 which is welcome and critical.

"However, standstill funding still represents a de facto decrease with inflation so high."