BOSSES at a threatened brain injury charity last night outlined a £30,000 fundraising drive to save the service.The future of the west Suffolk branch of Headway was put under threat when Suffolk County Council announced cuts to its funding.

BOSSES at a threatened brain injury charity last night outlined a £30,000 fundraising drive to save the service.

The future of the west Suffolk branch of Headway was put under threat when Suffolk County Council announced cuts to its funding.

Describing the plans as “shortsighted”, the charity has hit back and is now lobbying trust groups and the Lottery in a bid to raise the shortfall.

But they warned they would have to make their own reductions - including staff cuts - if the five-figure sum was not met.

David Taylor, general manager of the charity, said: “Fundraising has always been very important, but now it is essential just for our service to continue.

“We know social services have severe problems with budgets and this is having a profound effect on us. So we now need to raise money in lots of different ways.”

Speaking after a successful summer fete on Saturday, Mr Taylor said he had already begun contacting grant providers in a bid to raise the vital money.

He explained: “We have a target in access of £30,000 and we are now starting to approach trusts around the country and we are also looking to get some money from the Lottery.

“If we don't meet this target, we will have to reduce our costs to meet our income and some basic requirements will have to be cut.

“The only way we can do this is to reduce staff which will mean our service will be slightly diminished - though naturally we do not want this to happen.”

To boost funds, the charity held a family fun day on Saturday with entertainment, a fire engine and stalls among the attractions.

Suffolk County Council announced sweeping financial cuts in June after a shortfall in central Government funding.

Graham Newman, the council's portfolio holder for adult and community services, said: “We remain committed to ensuring there is proper care for our most vulnerable citizens.

“We are developing new ways of supporting people to use a wide range of community services. However shortfalls in central Government funding have begun to reduce the ability of many councils to deliver all the services they would like, despite continually improving efficiency.

“For instance, to stand still Suffolk County Council needed an additional £28m grant and received just £4m.”

Headway is UK's leading brain injury charity, providing support, services and information to survivors, their families and carers.