A COUNCIL leader will be asked what efforts are being made to ensure there is support for hundreds of children and young people in West Oxfordshire following the abrupt closure of a youth charity.

In November, Base 33, which had provided wide-ranging support to hundreds of disadvantaged young people for around 15 years, declared itself insolvent and closed.

Andy Graham, West Oxfordshire district councillor for Charlbury and Finstock, will on Wednesday ask council leader James Mills who is picking up the pieces left by the Witney-based charity.

The question he will ask is: “Can the leader of the council confirm what support the council gives to Base 33 in Witney and what further help is being given in light of the current uncertainty of the organisation’s status to continue providing the service so valued for the young people of the district?”

The meeting will be held at the district council’s Witney offices at 2pm on Wednesday.

One of the charity’s trustees Ron Spurs said in November that the charity had no alternative to close given its financial position - which was a result of donations falling below spending.

Relevant authorities, clients, commissioning bodies and partners were informed that the charity had ceased to operate - and of the gap it would leave in terms of youth support in and around Witney.

In December, Witney-based youth enterprise Synolos announced it will launch a youth work engagement programme to support vulnerable young people in West Oxfordshire this month.