A SHOP run by a charity, which helped people suffering with mental illness return to work, is to close due to funding cuts.

The Rethink Pet Shop, in Timberlog Lane, Basildon, run by the Rethink charity, helped offer support and voluntary work to people affected by mental illness and depression, so they could continue their recovery.

It was also a lifeline for other people not affected by mental illness and gave them a place to volunteer.

Alan Bent, 62, has volunteered for three years at the shop, after suffering an accident at work.

He said: “There were always people using the shop for help, whether it was just a couple of people or maybe even up to a dozen at one time.

“It was a very important place because some of the people who were helped there were quite distressed.

“This vital link in our mental health recovery is now lost from the community due to savage health service cutbacks.

“This service has put many people back into the workplace with its training skills giving many a helping hand back into everyday life.”

The premises contained a shop front, which sold pet accessories and food, a computer room where training was provided and a warehouse at the back where people worked maintaining stock.

It offered training and help to people who were suffering from conditions such as bipolar disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder to get their life back on track, including completing NVQ courses.

NHS funding helped keep the shop going.

A spokesman for NHS South West Essex said it was a regrettable decision to see the service go, but it was one which was necessary with other mental health services available to patients.

Adrian Faiers, senior mental health and learning disability commissioning manager at NHS South West Essex, said: “It is always difficult when deciding not to renew funding for a programme, but it has been necessary to make some very hard decisions to ensure future budgets are balanced and we achieve the best mental health outcomes for the people of south west Essex for every pound spent.”