Eight staff at Kirklees Citizens’ Advice Bureau are to lose their jobs after funding was slashed in half by Kirklees Council.

The employees – including chief executive Mark Lacey – took voluntary redundancy as funding for the service was axed by around 45%, some £365,000 a year.

The workers will go at the end of March and a new slimmed down organisation will emerge.

Deputy chief executive Nick Whittingham, who replaces Mr Lacey, said the service would be leaner but would still help as many, if not more, people.

Now called Kirklees Citizens’ Advice & Law Centre, the service will still have drop-in centres at Standard House in Half Moon Street, Huddersfield, and Empire House in Wakefield Old Road, Dewsbury.

The service, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, helped 1,994 people with a total of £10 million in personal debt in 2013-14, an increase of 25% on the previous year.

Mr Whittingham said the council had worked with the CAB over the last 12 months to prepare for the cuts.

There were no compulsory redundancies and a transition payment of £180,000 had been given to help cover severance pay, leases and other costs.

People needing help can still walk in off the street but telephone calls will be handled by a call centre.

Mr Whittingham said it may be that the service would move from its current premises in Huddersfield while the Dewsbury offices were currently being refurbished and would open on April 9.

Mark Lacey, chief executive of Citizens Advice Kirklees

He said the loss of funding had proved an opportunity to modernise the service and added: “Sometimes an organisation needs a shock to jolt it onto the next stage.

“We knew this would happen and we have been working closely with the council. It’s not all doom and gloom and our service is probably more accessible than before and there will be a better client experience.

“People had got used to coming in early and sitting in a queue and that wait won’t happen anymore.”

Mr Whittingham said the service would “not be as in-depth as it was” and advisors would help clients to help themselves as much as possible such as by searching for information on the internet.

From April the service will have 46 staff and Mr Whittingham said: “Whilst the downsizing process has been difficult for some staff and for volunteer colleagues, I have no doubt that the changes we have made are in the best interests of our clients.”

The CAB can be contacted on 0344 848 7970 or online at www.advicekirklees.co.uk