We have read about the likely consequences of impending Health and Social Care grant funding cuts for Pilton Community Health Project, but PCHP is not alone. A number of local projects are bracing themselves to face cuts or worse – for some, the tabled recommendations could prove to be the end of the road.
A community meeting at Madelvic House yesterday heard that, as well as Pilton Community Health Project, a number of local organisations are facing damaging cuts. Citywide initiatives including LOOPS and Time Banks are also likely to be axed should funding recommendations be accepted by the Integration Joint Board (IJB) today.
The Health and Social Care grant recommendations report to this morning’s IJB meeting is as notable for what it doesn’t say than for what it does.
We do know, for example, that 152 applications were received from across the city, requesting a total of £31 million over three years.
We know, too, that the available funding is £14.1 million.
But there are things that we don’t know, the things the report doesn’t tell us
It tells us that 35 projects were unsuccessful – but it doesn’t name them, or say where they are based
Of the successful projects, it details their funding recommendations for the next three years – but doesn’t say how much the project had initially applied for.
Running through the alphabetical list of successful applicants, you’re struck not by the names that appear, but by the names that are missing: the names of organisations you know had applied. Projects you now know that have been unsuccessful in their funding bids – and it’s almost as though they have disappeared already.
Among them are organisation who have been a valued part of community life in North Edinburgh for many years. Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, Muirhouse Millennium Centre, North West Carers and PEP are all projects which have served the people of North Edinburgh well – and all now face an uncertain future.
Alex Dale, who chairs Drylaw Community Association, the voluntary board which oversees the Neighbourhood Centre, said: “Yes, we were again unsuccessful in getting funding and yes, it will impact on the way we operate.
“However after the problems of three years ago we managed to achieve three year funding from the Robertson Trust which basically mirrored the then Health & Social Care grant. We also secured a one year grant – 5% of the previous year’s grant – which actually became a three year one ending next April.
“We’ll still have to look for extra funding so the Board will meet informally in January to discuss what’s next. Yet again Neighbourhood Centres like us have been overlooked and we’ll be raising this with our Ward Councillors. Not a nice Christmas for us.”
A tweet from Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre added: “Threatened with closure early next year due to disinvestment by the new EIJ Board. We have hosted weekly groups for older people for over 22 years – people who will now be isolated in their own homes. The cuts are making no sense and will have bigger impact on NHS Emergency service.”
Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre has seen year on year funding cuts for as long as I can remember, yet has managed not only to stay afloat but, with some support from Muirhouse Housing Association, has even seen numbers coming through the doors increase year on year. Manager Peter Airlie and a loyal team of volunteers have worked quiet miracles there.
Next year, though, the situation looks grim – the Millennium Centre’s funding bid was rejected and they are now calling for collective action.
A spokesperson said: “With the proposed recommended funding cuts it’s clear that lots of organisations in North Edinburgh are possibly going to be affected if they go ahead.
“At the moment they are only recommendations and ALL organisations need to get together to fight this … TOGETHER. We need to support each other and fight for each other as divided we are weaker and don’t have a voice that will carry any weight.
“We know that all the organisations that may be affected by these proposed cuts will be doing their best to save themselves – but we should be fighting to save ALL the organisations that provide an irreplaceable service and support to our respective communities. Together we stand – divided we fall.”
North West Carers are based in The Prentice Centre in Granton Mains. Their funding bid was also unsuccessful and the popular local project is now likely to face serious challenges next year.
North West Carers is a popular grassroots organisation which was formed in 1997 by carers who wanted more local support. North West Carers currently provides:
- One-to-One support
- Home visits
- Support groups
- Dementia services
- Adult short-break services
- Young Carer support groups
- Young Carer school support services
- Information services
- Signposting you to other relevant agencies
- Inter-generational work
- Educational courses
- Recreational groups, trips and outings.
The Carers group’s aim and mission is a simple one: that all Carers in North West Edinburgh get the help and support they need to sustain their caring role.
That’s going to prove difficult to deliver now, but the organisation will plough on.
Eddie Thorn, treasurer at North West Carers, explained: “This (Health and Social Care grant) is only part of our funding. Without it we could and will carry on after 31 March, but there would have to be cutbacks unless we get reinstated or secure alternative funding. I thought that there were some very good points came out of today’s meeting.”
And even among the names that do appear on the list, all is not as it appears.
Pilton Equalities Project (PEP) appeared to be one of the ‘winners’ in the funding round – after all, PEP was awarded £520,000 over three years to support their mental health and day care services.
That only tells part of the story, however – PEP will actually be LOSING £109,000 per year, which could result in the loss of up to six members of staff with others reducing their hours. This will inevitably lead to the withdrawal of a number of key PEP services – all of which will have a detrimental impact on the local community.
The strong feeling expressed at yesterday’s meeting – attended by around fifty project workers, management committee and board members alongside activists and community councillors – is that North Edinburgh appears to have come out of this process particularly badly.
IJB Chairperson Councillor Ricky Henderson has defended the process, however. He told the BBC: “This is a new process for allocating grants which I strongly believe meets our strategic objectives for providing health and social care services across Edinburgh.
“Following the EIJB decision in November 2017 to review the grant programmes for those inherited from the council and NHS Lothian, a steering group was formed and a grants programme was co-produced with the voluntary sector and subsequently agreed by the EIJB in August 2018.
“The steering group completed a robust and well thought-out application and assessment process. Training and advice surgeries were held for applicants throughout and following the closing date an independent chair was appointed to moderate the allocation programme – ensuring objective and impartial decisions.
“The EIJB will consider the recommendations of sharing £14.2m from the grants review steering group at our next meeting on 14 December.”
While further community research will be carried out into whether North Edinburgh really has fared worst, what can be said with certainty is that people living in poorer communities – North Edinburgh, Craigmillar, Wester Hailes – depend more on services, both public and voluntary, than do their more affluent neighbours in Cramond, Duddingston or Balerno.
It does seem that once again the poorest neighbourhoods are bearing the brunt of cuts – and it’s really hard to see how this can help tackle health inequalities.
When Edinburgh’s Integration Joint Board meets this morning, the Health and Social Care Grants recommendations is just one item on a full agenda, but I’d like to think that the board members will take at least a little time to reflect on the damage these cuts will inflict on the most vulnerable people across our city – the citizens who most need a helping hand.
For far too many of these Edinburgh folk, life is hard. Every single day is tough and it’s a real struggle just trying to get by … please don’t make it even tougher.
Edinburgh Integration Joint Board meets this morning at 9.30am in Dean of Guild Court Room, City Chambers. This is a public meeting and members of the public are welcome to attend.
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