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Campaigners call for support for rally to save FASA

A rally will be held in west Belfast tomorrow against the closure of FASA
A rally will be held in west Belfast tomorrow against the closure of FASA A rally will be held in west Belfast tomorrow against the closure of FASA

A RALLY is due to be held in west Belfast tomorrow against the suspension of services of a leading drugs and mental health charity.

Campaigners have urged people to support the event organised following the shock news that the Forum for Action on Substance Abuse (FASA) was scaling back its vital services.

Around 7,000 people have also signed a petition urging politicians to help save the charity.

The rally will be held at the FASA office on the Shankill Road at 8pm after the charity last week announced it had been forced to suspend services due to "financial problems".

In a statement on Saturday, the FASA board said it had been "overwhelmed by the support we have received from across the community in fighting for and maintaining FASA services".

It also said 13 members of staff have been asked to remain on a voluntary basis "to support those most vulnerable and complete transfer of clients to other services".

It added: "We would like to clarify that FASA's current financial status has not come as a result of our funding being withdrawn for the services we provide.

"The organisation in recent months has experienced financial hardship in relation to cash-flow problems in sustaining the full range of services that FASA have provided to meet the needs of its services users.

"In recent years FASA has endeavoured with support of our funders to become a regional organisation, unfortunately the risk elements attached to this strategy have proven to be detrimental to the organisations existence."

The charity also said the Department for Social Development and Department of Health will carry out a financial audit.

It added: "The liquidation will commence on 16th March 2016, however, we will continue to endeavour to look for the vital funds needed to secure a rescue package that would allow the services to remain within local communities".