Need help with an URL redirection issue.

Hi!

I want to permanently redirect an old URL to a new URL on a WordPress site I'm working on. I'm using .htaccess file to create the redirects.

OLD URL (that does not exist anymore): http://www.project-equity.org/programs/worker-coop-academy/

NEW URL (destination URL): http://www.project-equity.org/communities/

Redirect I have created in .htaccess file: Redirect 301 /programs/worker-coop-academy/ http://www.project-equity.org/communities/

This redirect is not working because the OLD URL (instead of being redirected to the NEW URL) is being automatically redirected to an URL that I have not specified: http://www.project-equity.orgworker-coop-academy/ This automatic redirect is giving a 'This site cannot be reached' error!

As you can see in the automatically redirected URL the trailing '/' at the end of .org is missing and hence the browser is treating it as domain and hence the 'Site cannot be reached' error.

Do anyone have an idea what is happening here? How do I bypass this automatic redirect and end up at the NEW/DESTINATION URL?

I have searched through several forums but have not been able to find a solution. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Madhu