RCD is 'forced' to close

Rochdale Centre of Diversity (RCD)  is being "forced" to close down – making all of its eight staff redundant.

The organisation formally announced it is to collapse this afternoon (Monday 27 July), due to Rochdale Borough Council’s decision to stop giving it financial support.

A council spokesman told Rochdale Online it has given RCD all the support it can, and has gone to excessive lengths to help out in the past.

The final decision to refuse further funding support to RCD was taken by the Council’s Informal Cabinet last Thursday 23 July) on the basis of a Briefing Paper prepared by a council officer.

An RCD spokesperson said the decision will “Silence one of the most authoritative local voices on community cohesion and diversity issues.”

RCD’s Chief Executive, Mohammad Naeem, “It is disturbing that the council is not only contributing to local unemployment, but depriving the Borough’s communities of the organisation most aware of and involved in the issues around community cohesion, and the one best placed to advise and support both Council and communities in their resolution.’

Zahir Siddique, The Chair of RCD said: “We will be calling for an emergency meeting with the Council to seek assurances that staff will receive their due notice and related redundancy pay that is their legal right and that all other legal commitments will be complied with.

“In the absence of these assurances we will have no choice but to seek advice about declaring insolvency.”

“RCD are continuing negotiations with the council and it is hoped assistance will be given to support an effective exit strategy to enable RCD to wind up services and signpost users to alternative providers before finally closing their doors.”