Two volunteers at Age UK West Cumbria have quit in protest at the way the organisation is being run.

Ray and Dawn Bamford, of Frizington, began helping the charity soon after moving to the area about seven years ago.

Mr Bamford, 79, worked three days a week on the switchboard at Egremont’s De Lucy Centre. His wife, 63, was a fundraiser. But they have decided to leave the roles, their fellow volunteers and staff they love after changes within the organisation. They had planned to step down next month, but were asked on Monday by charity bosses to leave immediately after speaking to the media about their concerns.

The couple claim they have been left out of the loop about recent changes within the charity ,including staffing cuts and they feel that, while the charity has said the cause has had to put costs up for some services because of funding shortages, it is making it increasingly difficult for volunteers to raise cash and for older people to get the support they need.

Mrs Bamford, who has raised thousands of pounds over the years, said: “Every time I try to raise funds I feel like I’m being blocked. I just feel like they don’t want us to raise money. We feel like we’ve been treated badly. We’re being kept so much in the dark and I’m being stopped from doing everything I try to do. I feel like I’m banging my head against a brick wall and there’s no point.”

Their decision came as the charity said it was closing its Millom centre, and after the closure of several of its charity shops. The couple fear its phone helpline will also close.

Mr Bamford said: “We are here to serve the community and sadly our service is going downhill because we can’t serve the community.

"I have loved every minute of volunteering. It’s heartbreaking to leave. I have treated the staff here like my extended family. It’s going to be a big hole in my life.”

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Chief executive Andy Todman said he regularly updated staff and volunteers on the charity’s activities. He said a county council contract which supports the helpline ends on March 31 but the charity is seeking other ways to fund the service, and the helpline will stay.

He added: “Reductions in public sector funding means that Age UK organisations throughout the UK are making similar changes to services. We are, however, still continuing to provide other excellent independent living services including day support and activities, help at home, nail cutting, daily living and mobility aids, community connections and joining forces. There are no plans to change our front counter services.

“Without change to adapt to the very challenging current operating environment, Age UK West Cumbria will cease to continue to operate and will be unable to support vulnerable older people in the local area. We are currently reinvigorating our charity shops and fundraising efforts.”

Asked about the instruction to Mr and Mrs Bamford to leave with immediate effect, Mr Todman said: “As a charity delivering services to older and vulnerable people with both staff and volunteers, There are policies, procedures and protocols in place to protect our customers, staff, volunteers and the organisation. If staff or volunteers choose to ignore [these] there have to be consequences. Unfortunately two volunteers where asked to leave the charity with immediate effect.”