SCOTLAND’S OLDEST COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT THREATENED WITH CLOSURE AFTER DRASTIC FUNDING CUTS

Young people’s mental health services among those facing the axe

Scotland’s oldest community health project, which has rebuilt and transformed thousands of lives in some of the country’s most deprived communities, is facing imminent closure after Edinburgh Council/NHS Lothian unexpectedly announced it plans to pull the plug on funding.

Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP), formed in 1984 to reduce health inequalities in North Edinburgh, received the news out of the blue last Thursday (6 December) and was told the decision would be rubber-stamped this Friday (14 December).

Now furious Project staff, volunteers and supporters are planning to protest at the City Chambers ahead of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board on Friday morning in a bid to have the decision thrown out.

Each year PCHP:

• Provides mental health counselling to around 50 pupils at Craigroyston and Broughton High Schools;
• Supports around 140 women who are survivors of gender-based violence or facing other difficulties in their lives;
• Supports around 100 people from 20 different countries integrate into the community;
• Helps around 300 people lead healthier lives by getting them more active and giving them cookery training.
• GP Community Link worker programme supported 800 patients within GP practices in the North West Locality
• People on low or no income are able to access food in a dignified way with no barriers
• Supported 50 local men and women with emotional distress in our adult counselling service.

There are no plans to replace these services even though we know there is high demand as we have waiting lists.  This is a false economy due to the impact on already stretched public sector and third sectors services; such as GPs, mental health services, hospitals and police. 

The Project also employs 35 staff and has 40 volunteers.

The Project applied to the Integrated Joint Board (IJB) for renewal of ongoing funding of £220,000 per year, for each of the next three years, to cover core costs and specific projects that tackle social isolation and health inequalities including youth counselling, support for vulnerable women, physical activity and cookery sessions. The drastic cut to core funding puts all our other services at risk of closure.

It has received Council and NHS funding for 30 years and annual reviews have consistently shown that targets have been met or exceeded. Project staff had received no indication that funding would stop.

Graham Rae, Chairman of the PCHP Board, said: “Pilton Community Health Project has proudly served this community for over 30 years and helped thousands of people make positive and long-lasting changes in their lives.

“This decision has come completely out of the blue and left the people of North Edinburgh and the project staff facing a miserable Christmas and a bleak future.

“To receive this news from nowhere last week with just seven days’ notice of the Council’s decision is unacceptable and uncaring. We were told by email without any explanation of the reasons behind the decision, and without any thought for the impact this will have on the community and staff.

“We deserve a full explanation and the opportunity to make our case to the Integration Joint Board before it rushes to a decision that will have devastating impact on people’s lives. We will not go quietly.”

Protests outside the City Chambers are planned early on Friday morning before the Board meets at 9.30am. The papers to the Board acknowledge that the removal of the Project’s funding ‘may result in a significant loss of health and wellbeing services in this locality’ and that the cuts will impact ‘those vulnerable to falling into poverty’, ‘minority ethnic people’ and ‘those with mental health issues’.

Ben MacPherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, said: “I have seen for myself the meaningful difference that Pilton Community Health Project has made for many people in North Edinburgh. It serves communities with some of the highest levels of deprivation in Scotland, supporting local families and individuals in need, and encouraging and creating positivity and greater confidence within the area.

“I am very concerned about the proposed cuts to PCHP’s funding. This is yet another example of the negative impact of the UK Government’s austerity agenda, which continues to reduce, and put serious pressure on, both the Scottish Government’s budget and local authorities’ budgets.

“It is very concerning that PCHP’s future is potentially in doubt as a result of these IJB decisions and I will be writing to the IJB to ask them to re-consider their decisions and the impact of them.”

Local resident Karen has been involved with PCHP for over three years.  She heard about the project through her Family Support Worker and eventually gained enough confidence to walk through the door.  Karen said “PCHP is like a family – friendly, open minded.  As soon as I came through the door, I just got on with my life.

“PCHP has made a big difference to my life.  I never used to go out due to depression and anxiety.  I’ve got lots of support; it has opened my eyes to healthier living and eating, feeling better and feeding my kids better.  I’ve made new friends and even been on training courses here.

“My life would be so different if PCHP wasn’t here.  It would knock me back.  Due to this place now I have my life back.”

(Karen is a lone parent with four children)

Protest at Edinburgh City Chambers, High Street on Friday 14^th of December at 8:45 onwards.

Website www.pchp.org.uk  Facebook:  www.facebook.com/PiltonCommunityHealthProject

Twitter: @PiltonComHealth   #SavePCHP