Message from Restore Trustees about The Orchard

It is with an extremely heavy heart that we inform you of the decision to close one of Restore’s six mental health recovery services, The Orchard in Banbury, on 5th June 2025. All other Restore services will remain unaffected.

Like many charities across the country, the national autumn budget brought with it the prospect of significant financial pressures for Restore from the start of this financial year (1 April 2025). 

Fair pay for our staff is essential and as such, in 2024 Restore committed to becoming an Oxford Living Wage employer. We now find the combination of the 5.4% rise in the Oxford Living Wage, the increase in employer National Insurance contributions to 15% and the decrease in the National Insurance threshold will significantly increase the annual cost of running our pan-Oxfordshire recovery and coaching services, increasing our spend on salaries alone by 10%. 

Like many medium sized charities, we exist in a time of increasing cost of living, which affects every aspect of our delivery, and are operating in an increasingly more challenging fundraising landscape. 

After careful consideration, the Board of Restore has determined that the only viable option to achieve the necessary financial efficiencies is to close one of our service locations. The decision to propose The Orchard for closure was based on an objective review of operational costs, location, and amenities. 

We deeply regret that this decision will have an impact on our members at The Orchard. We are incredibly proud of what The Orchard has achieved since it opened in 2010, supporting the people of Banbury and the surrounding areas. It is genuinely distressing that we have had to come to this decision.

Over the next six weeks, anyone affected will be spoken to about putting in place a support plan, which will include helping them to identify and access other support services available in Banbury and the wider area.

With our thanks for your continued support,

Sam Mostyn (Chair of Trustees) and all Restore Trustees