CLEAR-THE-AIR  talks have been held between a Redbridge charity and a group of elderly tea ladies who work for them.

The volunteers, who run the canteen at Redbridge Magistrates' Court on behalf of Redbridge Mencap, were unhappy that the charity was insisting on CRB checks.

And they said they were fed up with a lack of communication, the imposition of new menus and a failure to recruit new volunteers.

At a meeting last week, Karen Fineberg, the chairwoman of Redbridge Mencap, promised the tea ladies that the charity was listening to their concerns.

She said: “We agreed that they will be invited to all future trustee meetings so that they know what’s going on, how the money they have raised is being spent and feel more involved in things.

“I said ‘Let’s just draw a line under what’s happened and move forward.’ And I hope that’s what we can do now.”

As part of the meeting the tea ladies were told that they had to accept CRB checks.

Redbridge Mencap is also planning to train adults with learning disabilities to work in the canteen so that it can open five days a week.

Iris Allison, 84, has volunteered in the canteen for six years.

She said: “They seemed a bit miffed that we spoke to the newspaper because they said it didn’t look good for Mencap.

“But there are a lot of us who have been here a long time and it is hard to accept a new broom, especially at our age.

“We are happy that they will be inviting us to these meetings so we know what’s going on.

“But I am not sure I would be able to cope with working in the canteen and helping a young person with learning disabilities.

“I suppose we will have to wait and see what happens.”

In a letter to the Guardian, Mark Grainger Community development officer for Mencap in North and South East London, said: “All charities must look to modernise their services if they want to survive in today's environment.

“Karen and Redbridge Mencap's trustees must look to do this, without exception, even if some of their members are not happy with change.

“The tea room volunteers are Redbridge Mencap volunteers and should support their charity's duty to protect and serve those they provide services for.”