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The voice of Haverhill's voluntary sector could be silenced soon due to a combination of bad luck, misunderstanding and lack of time for new provision.

The Haverhill Association of Voluntary Organisations (HAVO) was plunged into a funding crisis some months ago when a series of funding and revenue streams unfortunately all dried up at the same time.

With an uncertain future and keen not to have to call a series of extraordinary general meetings under the charity's constitution, they voted for the trustees to have power to wind the group up if necessary.

St Edmundsbury Council, the group's only remaining funder, took this as a sign it would be closing down and decided to axe its grant.

Now the group is pleading with the council to hold off long enough for it to source other funding.

D-day is January 20 when the council's cabinet decides on the recommendation from its grants panel.

The council has been upset to be painted as the villain of the piece, and HAVO's chairman Mick Smith concedes the group contributed to the misunderstanding by taking the vote on winding up.

But the results have been catastrophic for members, and particularly for its employee, Michael Simpkin, who managed all the group's projects.

These have included HAVO's vital input into the formation of a credit uniuon in Haverhill, the Shopmobility scheme, Haverhill Advice and Mentoring Service (HAMS, now closed down), and Sailability, a scheme which provides sailing experience for the disabled at Lackford Lakes.

The group has also organised highly successful annual health days at Haverhill Leisure Centre, and men's health days with the Darzi clinic, produces and monthly magazine and generally acts as an information conduit for voluntary groups in the town.

Most importantly, they currently handle the obtaining of large numbers of CRB checks for local organisations and businesses.

HAVO's estimated costs for the next year were £30,000, and the loss of various forms of funding left them with just their £9,000 funding from St Edmundsbury, of which £5,000 is notional as it pays the rent on their office in St Edmundsbury's former council offices in Downs Slade, so goes straight back to the council.

The remaining £4,000 core funding is being re-directed by the council to any other group which will take over HAVO's work, but reduced by £1,000 to account for 'economies of scale'.

Mr Smith, himself a volunteer, does not believe there is anyone in a position to replicate what they do.

Someone would be found to do the CRB checks and the basic paperwork, but the group's function as a catalyst for new innovations in the town, bringing groups together to provide new services, will be lost, he says.

"It's really frustrating because we were beginning to become known across the East of England for what we are achieving in Haverhill," he said.

"We now have to work with the business community to find fund raising activities or projects which we can work on."

Both he and Mr Simpkin, who is continuing to help out on a voluntary basis, believe they can attract new funding and revenue given enough time.

But the council's deadline gives them only until March to do so and they say it is simply not long enough, as they need about a year to get enough funding to re-employ Mr Simpkin.

Mr Smith says this is vital because Mr Simpkin provides the professional project management they need, as well as IT support for them, and PAT testing of electrical appliances for charities and charity shops.

His know-how was vital for the group. "He has saved HAVO thopusands of pounds over the years," said Mr Smith.

For its part, St Edmundsbury says it is not increasing grants to any voluntary organisatoion this year, and it would be unfair to make an exception.

It says it is making significant investment in Haverhill Volunteer Centre - double the amount it is giving to the Bury one - and that HAVO had decided to wind itself up anyway.

A spokesman said: "We are keen to counteract any impression that it is the borough which is forcing HAVO to close. In a way it is the opposite - HAVO's situation means we are looking at alternative ways of funding the voluntary sector in Haverhill."

Meanwhile Mr Smith and Mr Simpkin are waiting for a final decision.

Selling the idea of supporting HAVO is a tough challenge, because it is not a charity with an obvious image.

"People don't understand what you do when you are an infrastructure group like us," said Mr Simpkin. "We are a catalyst for other groups who often then get the credit."

But in its office HAVO has a Christmas card from an anonymous disabled person, in which was a £10 note. The message said it was all the sender could afford, but they wanted to support HAVO's work and if everyone in Haverhill did the same it would soon be up and running again.

"That really moved us," said Mr Smith. "It was just fantastic."

They haven't spent it yet, and if HAVO survives, they will probably frame the tenner and hang it on the wall as a constant reminder of the value of what they do.

* Our picture shows HAVO chairman Mich Smith, Michael Simpkin and volunteer Eric Bratt outside their office in Lower Downs Slade.