MENTAL health service users have been saddened this week to discover that they will lose their Centre next year due to a lack of funding from Westminster.

Following public consultations earlier this year, the council wants to streamline services and continue with Compass Recovery College, while other sites - including Reading Your Way (RYW) - are likely to be closed to help balance the books.

Reading Borough Council is considering re-shaping mental health services by encouraging people with mental health problems to take charge of their own recovery.

Cuts to mental health funding are expected to be just one part of the council's plan to plug a £42 million budget gap.

RYW service user, Marion Mills, said: "We are a vulnerable group of people and we have had more than our fair share of cuts already. People are really going to feel the loss if it is gone.

"I have been suffering from mental health problems since I was 16 years old. I have lived in Reading for the last ten years and I started using the facilities as soon as I heard about them. We are able to be around like-minded individuals and share experiences and just be there to support each other."

Council-funded RYW, is set to be cut off when it's contract expires at the end of March, which means that users will be forced to switch to the Recovery College.

The Council needs to tackle an estimated budget gap of £42 million by 2020, with mental health being just one of the sectors to bare the brunt of these cost-cutting measures.

Cllr Graeme Hoskin, lead member for health, said: “Unfortunately, due to major government funding cuts, we cannot continue to support the existing service and must now look to how we can make the most of our limited resources, whilst maximizing the benefit to users of the mental health services.

“Although we appreciate any change is difficult for service users, we believe the new services available will link users to support through a model which is in line with best practice and has a focus on promoting self-reliance and personal development."

A consultation on these changes launched on December 6 and will run for 12 weeks.