A MAN has told how York’s Jack Raine Foundation gave “absolutely wonderful” help to his step-daughter when she developed mental health problems.

Chris Gaze said he feared other youngsters with similar problems would have no one to help them after it emerged that the charity commission is investigating the foundation and had taken steps to close its bank account, and that police have arrested two people during inquiries.

Mr Gaze, from a village near York, said his step-daughter Kate (name changed), now 16, had begun to suffer mental health problems about 18 months ago.

He said she then began being bullied at her school, and had to be withdrawn and went instead to Danesgate School, where pupils go who struggle in mainstream schools because of social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.

She was also referred to Lime Trees, the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service, where a psychiatrist referred her to the foundation, based off Walmgate, to receive support under its ‘big sister’ mentoring scheme.

“The ladies there have been absolutely wonderful,” he said. “They’ve been like a big sister or older friend to her. She’s been able to chat about things, have a cup of coffee, go shopping with them and so on.

“Because of the foundation, she was also able to go to York Boxing Club free of charge.

“It has all helped her enormously. She had still been going there until we got a phone call on Monday from the staff, saying they had received their P45s and the service wouldn’t be running any more. They didn’t want anyone to think they were being abandoned. Kate has come on far enough to be able to be philosophical about it, but I am concerned about others who are half way through, who have suddenly had the support taken away, and those who would have benefited in future, who are going to have no help whatsoever.

“The loss of this fine charity organisation will have a massive impact on the youngsters who have been helped through some severe mental health issues by the wonderful ladies who acted as big sister mentors.

“My concern is that while focusing on the issues that have caused JR to be closed, people will lose sight of the excellent work that the troops on the ground have been doing.

“The real victims here are the ladies that provided the service on the ground, the current recipients of their good works, and all future youngsters who will now miss out because of the demise of JR.”

*The Press has made repeated attempts to contact the foundation over the past fortnight but no one has responded to our phone calls, emails and messages.