THE FUTURE of the Hexham building which until recently housed young people in need of refuge remains uncertain.

The Links building on Haugh Lane, which provided vital help for 16-25 year-olds who were homeless or threatened with homelessness, closed on March 31.

Barnado’s which ran the service confirmed that the closure was down to funding constraints.

Now social landlord, Isos Housing, which owns the Links building, says talks are ongoing to bring the accommodation into use once more.

It is not yet clear what kind of role is envisaged for the nine-bed accommodation block.

A spokesman for Isos Housing said: “Barnardo’s has been a good partner, and we respect their decision to relinquish their role owing to funding pressures.

“The funding situation for accommodation of this kind, supporting young homeless people, is very challenging currently. However Isos is now in discussions with a third party, with the hope that the accommodation can be brought back into use.”

The ground floor windows at the Haugh Lane building are boarded up and the door to the accommodation block padlocked. However, according to Isos the building is not lying empty, with training and meeting rooms still in use.

The spokesman said: “A large proportion of the building, containing training and meeting rooms, is let to a charity on a long lease, where the trustees are responsible for how it is managed.”

In the wake of the Links centre’s closure, two members of staff were made redundant and three young people are said to have been moved to alternative accommodation in the area.

A spokesman for Northumberland County Council said: “While it is disappointing that Barnardos has had to close the Links centre, young people in the Tynedale area who are homeless or threatened with homelessness are able to access support, advice and assistance through the council’s housing team.”