A CHARITY has defended its decision to lay off staff during the coronavirus outbreak after it was claimed they had shown no goodwill to their employees.

Journey Enterprises, which delivers day services to adults with complex intellectual disability, operate refreshment kiosks at Hexham railway station and the bus station.

However due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the four members of staff have been made redundant, with one person claiming the charity had shown no goodwill of their own by not offering furlough arrangements.

Elspeth McPherson, chief executive of the charity, said Journey had been significantly impacted by Covid-19, and its overriding concern was maintaining the team to support their171 clients now in isolation at home.

She said: “The Government’s furlough arrangements do not apply to publicly commissioned providers, where these are providing key services to vulnerable people and this has been explained to those staff working only in our enterprise arm.

“This means that we are not able to offer furlough, as they are aware. Regrettably, these were closed, in line with Government requirements.

“Our Board of volunteer trustees met last week and agreed we will close our Enterprise activity. The criteria for redundancy, the business case, is that there is no immediate or mid term prospect for enterprise both to provide income to achieve full cost recovery, nor for us to continue this activity within 12 months.

“This has been a very difficult, and saddening process, but handling professionally, appropriately and with support for our colleagues. “