BOSSES at one of East Lancashire’s largest housing providers said they will protect frontline services for older people but have confirmed more than 60 job losses as a vulnerable tenants scheme is axed.

Management at Calico in Burnley insist their older people’s support offering will remain largely unchanged, despite Lancashire County Council funding cuts.

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But it has emerged that 62 posts will be lost at the Centenary Court outfit, as a county council backed floating support service for those at risk of being made homeless is withdrawn.

Housing assistance for up to 2,000 people each year, offering help with running a household week-to-week and money management issues, was provided by the service.

A Calico spokesman said: “We are doing everything we can to redeploy and support staff at this difficult time by offering guidance and alternative employment opportunities.”

The company has stressed that the move would not affect other services being offered by the Calico Group, This includes managing Burnley’s former council housing stock as well as running its own development arm, and offering the domestic violence scheme Safenet and Acorn Recovery Projects, which focuses on drugs and alcohol rehabilitation.

Following the jobs announcement, the group issued a further statement, reaffirming its commitment to older people’s services.

No redundancies will be necessary for that sector, according to Kate Heelas, Calico’s independent living services manager, when the county council savings come into force next April.

She said: “Everybody at Calico Homes involved in the delivery of support for older tenants has worked really hard over the past few years, planning ahead to create efficiencies that will prevent services for older and vulnerable people from being cut.

“These are difficult financial times, so we knew we had to dig deeper to ensure some of the most vulnerable people in our society weren’t adversely affected, and they could still be supported to live as independently and fully as possible.”

The independent living service not only delivers housing support and emergency alarm assistance but also offers activities to ensure older residents remain stimulated. An estimated 1,500 people across the area are said to use the service presently.