Volunteers at the Broadgreen Community Centre are fearing for their future after a council decision to stop funding the staff member who has been described as their “backbone.”

Frances Barrone’s official title is localities facilitator – but for the team of volunteers who have organised themselves around her over the past year, she might better be described as a mentor, a supporter, a trusted confidante and a friend.

But at the end of March, as the council prepares to offload community centres to parishes in the coming months, her role will come to an end.

Gavin Perry, of Broadgreen, said: “Frances is like the hub of the wheel, the wheel has many spokes, the spokes are from many places with different languages, cultures, and beliefs – also problems.

“She has focused on developing a culture of volunteering and she is a vital point of contact for people in distress.”

Others echoed Gavin’s words. Mike Savage runs the job club there and he described Frances’ contribution as tremendous.

“She knows more about what happens here than anyone,” he said.

“With her leaving a lot of volunteers are just not turning up now, the centre isn’t going to die on March 31, it’s dying now.

“I can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel, just the train.”

The interim councillors overseeing the newly created Central Swindon South Parish Council until elections in May have acknowledged the importance of the community centre and have set aside funds to keep the building open with a caretaker-type staff member.

But funding Frances’ role will not be easy given their already stretched budget.

Simon Piff, 30, who volunteers at the centre, said he and other volunteers were willing to step up and help run services but they need time to get ready.

“She’s put a lot into this place, she’s the backbone, but we’re in no position to save her job,” he said.

“We’re being proactive, if her job could be funded for just another year then, with parish council support, we could run this place.”

Volunteers have met with the borough council to emphasise how much a sudden loss of expertise would impact on the routine, trust and sense of community developed among the often vulnerable users of the community centre.

But, so far their pleas for help have gone unanswered.

A spokesman for Swindon Borough Council said: “The changes in the localities team reflect the council’s current financial position and the challenges it faces in sustaining local services.

“The council will continue to support community volunteering through its partnerships with the voluntary and community sector as well as through parish councils.”