A CHARITY CEO has revealed with a "heavy heart" that there will be closures as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

The Cellar Trust, which supports people with mental health problems in Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven, has announced the closure of its charity shop and woodwork & horticulture skill shop.

Kim Shutler, CEO at The Cellar Trust, said continued rules for safe working such as social distancing would make providing the services too risky.

The Shipley-based charity has supported those in need for over 30 years and will continue to do so through Haven, a 365 day a year crisis service, its Pathways to Employment service, and the over-the-phone Telehealth service.

The CEO said: “It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the closure of The Cellar Trust Charity Shop and Woodwork & Horticulture department. When The Cellar Trust opened its doors in the 1980s we were, and still are, a mental health charity with a difference.

“One of our different and unique offerings was our fantastic woodwork and horticulture sessions, which provided clients with a therapeutic and creative route to recovery.

"As this department has been with us from the very start of our journey, it makes it all the more difficult to have to say goodbye.

"Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and continued rules around safe working, we will be unable to continue running our sessions. We have reviewed our options for reopening we cannot be assured that we can do it safely.

“Our Charity Shop opened seven years ago in Shipley town centre, and provided a supportive retail training environment where people recovering from mental health problems could come to learn retail and customer service skills as well as build confidence and self-esteem. As the shop is so small we will be unable to deliver it safely without it operating at a significant financial loss.

"The safety of our staff, volunteers and clients must always come first, which is why we have come to this decision.

“We'd like to thank everyone who has been involved in the Charity Shop and Woodwork & Horticulture, past and present, for their support.

"Our staff, volunteers, clients and partners are what made the department so fantastic and the charity wouldn’t be where it is today without our extended Team Cellar family.

“We will ensure our clients are supported where possible via our continuing services, and help them to access support from other local charities and organisations.”

The Cellar Trust Charity Shop is reopening for a short time from today until Friday, July 10 to sell as much of its current stock as possible.

The charity will not be able to accept any new donations and is asking you to send any items to other local charity shops when they reopen.

The prices will be as follows: All kids clothing - 25p; all books - 50pll ladies and mens clothing - £1; all accessories - £1 and all household items - £1 or less.

Opening times for the charity shop will be: Monday, July 6 - 9.30am - 2pm; Tuesday, July 7- 9.30am - 2pm; Wednesday, July 8 - 9.30am - 2pm; Thursday, July 9 - 9.30am - 2pm and Friday, July 10 - 9.30am - 2pm.

"We’d like to thank the staff, volunteers, clients, and customers for an amazing seven years," the charity said.