Any redundancy payment due from a charity?

Sandalwoman

I work part time for a small local charity under the wing of a still small, but slightly larger charity and we have the same charity number (my section was incorporated into the constitution at a later date). My section (just 2 of us actually employed) is sometimes classed as working under the "umbrella" of the main section. Our accounts, although compiled separately, are incorporated into the main part of the charity for accounting purposes.

The main charity is "cash poor, but asset rich" and has decided to sell their building (owned by them outright). We have a centre within this building. After the sale has gone through, the main section of the charity has decided to just rent places for a weekly members meeting and take their time in buying somewhere. This will not be suitable for our section, as we need continuity for our service (they know this). They will receive a substantial amount from the sale of the property. Arguably, it is our small section that provides the most support to more people - they are quite exclusive for the few, but in their eyes, more important. There has been no mention of a "payoff" for our section as far as I know.

Our sections main funding comes from the local authority, (we were a casualty of the health service cuts) and we have pulled in our belts to the absolute limit. We are not sure about continuing support from the local authority at the moment - they are still working things out in these austerity driven times. The main section does not receive any funding from the local or health authorities. Even if they do carry on with our sections funding, the amount we would have to pay in rent somewhere plus public liability insurance would not render it viable to carry on as it is.

My problem is, if we cannot carry on, am I entitled to any settlement? Our contracts from the local authority (effectively the ones who pay us) are 12 month rolling ones (which I knew when I took the job). The main charity will say they do not employ me, the funders do. I very rarely have any contact with the main section.

I would not have considered this until someone, who rents a room in the building, said that my length of service (about 8 years) should entitle me to something rolling contract or not.

I do not wish to rock any boats if the local authority decide they can't do without us and help us out with premises etc(!), but have found it difficult to find out if I have any rights, or not. I should add my colleague, although he would miss the work (and the money) is in receipt of a state pension and a couple of private pensions so is not in the same position as me.

I am just exploring my options really, I don't really wish to get solicitors involved, especially against the charity, but feel they are brushing us off in an off hand way.

Apologies for what appears to be a complicated post - it really is complicated.