A hospice is to take over the management of a cash-strapped charity that cares for people with HIV and Aids.

The senior team at Martlets Hospice in Hove will run the Sussex Beacon in Brighton from next month.

The one-year contract starts on June 1.

The Martlets team will be responsible for executive management and planning the Beacon's future.

The two charities will operate and fund-raise independently, as both organisations have their own stakeholders and core groups of supporters.

There are no plans to change services at the Beacon in the first year but it could later branch out into cancer or other palliative care because of cuts in HIV funding.

The Beacon says broadening its remit could help protect its HIV and Aids services.

The centre has been fighting financial problems since the collapse of Wellspring Group, which was set up to provide financial, human resources and support services for Aids and HIV charities in Brighton and Hove.

Brighton Body Positive, which provided counselling and drop-in support for up to 300 people, went into liquidation in February.

And there were fears for the Beacon, which had paid £160,000 for services due to be delivered by Wellspring.

The centre should have £420,000 set aside to pay for five months' running costs in case of an emergency but at the end of the financial year in March 2006, it had less than half that amount.

Three Beacon staff members have been made redundant.

Chairman Michael Le Garst said all workers were spoken to on Tuesday and the Beacon would do all it could to minimise the effects of the cash crisis.

The Beacon is based in Bevendean Road, north Brighton.

It opened in 1992 as a hospice for people dying of Aids-related illnesses and is now one of only two centres of its kind in the country. It has ten residential beds and a range of community services.

With the advent of new treatments, its focus has changed to that of providing specialist care and support to individuals living with HIV. It describes itself as a "continuing care centre".

Mr Le Garst said: "We have extended this invitation to the Martlets team in order that we can sustain our services over the next 12 months and develop a strategic plan for the long-term provision of HIV services.

"This initial contract will enable the Martlets team to start their role very quickly and will enable both parties to ensure a sound and mutually beneficial relationship develops before considering whether a more formal, longer-term relationship should be established."

Hospice trustee chairman Roger French said: "We will be pleased to offer our support and involvement in the delivery of the Sussex Beacon's muchneeded and respected HIV services in the coming months and years.

"Both organisations are committed to providing highquality care to patients and their relatives and it is important we share our expertise and experience to the benefit of all sections of the communities we serve."

The hospice, based in Wayfield Avenue, opened ten years ago and provides endof- life care for adults with life-limiting diseases.

Facilities include an 18-bed in-patient unit, a day hospice, a bereavement and counselling service and a hospice-at-home service.

The Martlets team was first approached by the Beacon in February.

Hospice chief executive Caroline Lower said: "The Beacon team was looking to talk to other organisations to see if they were interested in partnering up with them and providing that support.

"We were glad to be able to do what we could to help."

The hospice is being paid to provide the service but would not say how much.

The Martlets team will also be looking the possibility of combining the services it provides with what is provided at the Beacon, to see how people's needs can be met.