Tag: funding cuts

MSP Calls for Greater Support and Funding Clarity for Local Community Organisations

Foysol Choudhury MSP Stands with Unsung Community Heroes in Edinburgh

Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, calls for greater support and funding for local community organisations in Edinburgh, such as the Polish Family Support Centre, following a series of ruthless budget cuts from the Scottish Government.

Foysol Choudhury MSP has issued a heartfelt and urgent appeal for greater support and funding for local community organisations in Edinburgh. During a recent visit to the Polish Family Support Centre, Mr. Choudhury emphasised the critical role these organisations play in encouraging community cohesion and providing essential services to underrepresented groups.

This comes after the Scottish voluntary sector was struck with further budget cuts. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) have revealed that real-term cuts to public funding have surmounted to over £177m since 2021, where more than 76% of third-sector organisations report financial challenges because of inflation and rising costs.

These cuts are not just numbers; they represent the struggles of countless individuals and families who rely on these vital services.

This situation may only worsen with changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions, imposed by Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves, which could leave the sector with another £75m to find each year.

In his recent visit to the Polish Family Support Centre, Mr. Choudhury witnessed significant challenges due to limited funding and resources.

As a one-stop-shop for all, the Polish Family Support Centre provides a wide range of services, including professional counselling, workshops, and support groups, all aimed at helping Polish families and individuals navigate the complex nature of life in Scotland.

However, the Centre’s ability to expand its reach and impact has been drastically obstructed by financial constraints. According to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, the Polish Family Support Centre has lost hundreds of thousands in funding, and with over 4,040 yearly sessions in 2023 – an increase of 2,000 from 2018 – it is clear that the Polish Family Support Centre needs further backing.

Other community organisations such as the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, Milan SWO, Edinburgh Diwali, the Bihari Community of Scotland, and other third sector organisations are also crying out for support.

Mr. Choudhury’s call to action comes at a time when many third-sector community organisations struggle to secure funding and resources. He has been a vocal advocate for these groups, hosting roundtable discussions at the Scottish Parliament to address the current funding model and barriers to access.

Here, the Scottish Government and other public bodies need to take a fair funding approach, moving to inflation-based settlements of three years or more, which consider costs such as uplifts in the real living wage.

Community organisations, such as the Polish Family Support Centre, continue to exist as a symbol of hope for the people of Edinburgh, driven by a mission to support and empower individuals and families.

Commenting, Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “Community organisations exist as the backbone of our society. They offer vital services, from psychological support to advocacy, yet they remain overlooked and underfunded.

“It is crucial that we recognise their contributions to our community and provide them with the necessary support to continue their work.

“Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland must address the barriers to funding and ensure that smaller community-based organisations have access to the resources they need, as their work is crucial in promoting social inclusion and supporting minority groups.

“I urge everyone from policymakers to residents, to recognise the invaluable work these organisations do. They are not just service providers; they are the heart and soul of our communities.

“By supporting them, we are investing in a more inclusive, compassionate, and resilient society. Let’s come together to ensure that nobody is left behind.”

MSP Calls for transparency and protection of essential services amidst EIJB budget cuts

Foysol Choudhury, MSP for the Lothian Region, has expressed deep concern over the proposed £29 million savings programme being considered by the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) as part of its £900 million budget for health and social care services.

The EIJB’s proposed financial strategy aims to address rising service demands, increasing costs, and demographic shifts, but Foysol Choudhury MSP emphasised the need for transparency in decision-making, highlighting the importance of long-term strategic investment.

The proposed budget cuts will be formally discussed at the EIJB meeting on March 25, 2025. Foysol Choudhury MSP is encouraging residents to stay informed and make their voices heard in the decision-making process.

Commenting, Foysol Choudhury MSP said: ““The health and social care system in Edinburgh is already under immense strain, and while we all recognise the financial pressures facing the EIJB, it is critical that these cuts do not disproportionately impact the most vulnerable in our community.

“We must ensure that any savings made do not come at the expense of frontline services that so many Edinburgh residents depend on.”

“We need a future-proofed approach to social care that ensures sustainability, rather than short-term fixes that could lead to deeper crises down the line. I urge the EIJB to explore all possible options, including securing additional funding and working more closely with third-sector partners.”

“With the highest record settlement from the UK Labour Government since devolution, local authorities should not be pressured to cut essential services.”

Millennium Centre Funding Crisis: Public Meeting Tonight

COUNCILLORS MISSING BUT LIFT COMMUNITY MEETING GOES AHEAD

It is looking like NO councillors will attend but Peter, Brenda, Stacey and hopefully our chair will be on the panel to take and answer your questions the best they can, we will take a list of your questions and make sure they are sent to the relevant department within the council or to the councillors

We will have a petition to request the centre receives at least one years funding to help us to stay open.

We have been told that the budget is already set in stone but we are asking for any monies left from the 24/25 budget as we already know we wouldn’t be even a thought in the new 25/26 budget

We have been told this isn’t possible but two years ago funding was found for us so we don’t see why they can’t do this again

If you can come along to the meeting please do – and sign our petition!

Thank you

Please share this post

EVOC: The Future’s Looking Brighter

It is the 21 February and the days are getting longer but more importantly, the future is looking brighter (writes EVOC CEO BRUCE CRAWFORD).

EIJB Fund Cuts

On Thursday (yesterday) the City of Edinburgh Council held a full Council meeting. I was in attendance to make a deputation on behalf of the voluntary organisations impacted by the cuts by the EIJB grants programme for social care.

This followed months of work by colleagues from across the sector who have worked tirelessly for the affected organisations. The work was largely done by members of the Third Sector Reference Group that came into existence after the EIJB meeting on 1 November which led to a three month extension to June 2025.

The eventual outcome is that the £4.5m grants programme has been replaced for the next financial year, so services can continue to be delivered to many of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Further work needs to be done in the coming weeks and months to help the officers to create the mechanism for disbursement of the funds.

I want to thank all the individuals who contributed to this success, it is evidence of the need to work together, focus on the needs of our communities and stand up for what is right.  I hope that we can build on the experience to generate continued investment into the sector as this will not be the last challenge we face.

A key function of EVOC is advocacy and this includes responding to consultations on proposed legislation and strategies. A current example of this is the draft Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board’s strategy 2025-28.

We have published information on our work in this area on our website. It includes a presentation and a video that explains the draft strategy.

 To inform our response we have asked a number of questions through an online survey.  Despite our request for an extension, the deadline from the EIJB is this Sunday (23 Feb 2025) and there is still no easy read version available. 

We encourage everyone who is interested in, or affected by this, to submit a response here.

Looking Forward

On 29 January I attended my first EVOC board meeting and found it to be useful and productive in equal measures. In the spirit of openness and transparency the directors unanimously agreed to my proposal to publish minutes of EVOC board meetings on the website. The minute of that meeting can be found here.

Following the challenges faced by EVOC in 2024 we created a recovery plan and are well on the way to developing a more robust and resilient organisation.

Some key changes are: improved policies and procedures, greater financial scrutiny and forecasting, better communication, along with a new risk management policy and risk register and a new strategic plan that focuses on the core purpose of the organisation to serve the needs of the sector. 

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the survey that we issued last month to inform our understanding of the needs of our members. We received a great deal of useful feedback and it will help our thinking as we develop the strategic plan for EVOC for 2025-2030.

Finally I am looking forward to our AGM on 26 February.

It is being held online to help make attendance as easy as possible. Details of how to register for the meeting are available here.

UNISON protest against catastrophic cuts to Lothian third sector

Largest health union protest against £4.5m cuts to Lothian’s third sector services

Activists from Scotland biggest health union, UNISON will gather outside Edinburgh City Chambers this morning to lobby against proposed £4.5m cuts to 64 third sector organisations in the city.

These cuts, including a £1 million reduction in welfare rights services, will strip vital support from low-income families, disabled people, carers and contradicting the Edinburgh Council’s anti-poverty strategy, says UNISON

Unions and community organisations are warning that the consequences could be catastrophic for service users and staff.

The removal of these preventative services will also increase pressure on NHS services, A&E, and crisis care, shifting costs rather than delivering real savings, says the union

UNISON is calling on the City of Edinburgh Council to allocate £4.5 million in next year’s budget to keep these essential services running.

UNISON Lothian health branch secretary Tracy-Anne Miller said: “Slashing funding to third sector organisations will devastate communities and cost more in the long run.

“These cuts will push more people into NHS services at a time when hospitals and GPs are already overstretched. We need investment in care, not a crisis. We are calling on the council to step up, protect these services, and prevent these cuts.”

UNISON activists will gather outside Edinburgh City Chambers from 8.30 am this morning (Thursday 20th February) to lobby the City of Edinburgh Council to protect funding for 64 third sector organisations facing cuts following the announcement by the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board (which directs the health and social care partnership) to cut its £4.5million third sector grants programme from June 2025. 

UNITE City of Edinburgh Branch will also be making their voices heard in the quadrangle today. A demo will take place outside the City Chambers on the High Street from 8.30am to 9.30am,

The unions will send deputations to the meeting to speak on behalf of their members. In all, ELEVEN deputations will be heard today. Among them are Oaklands School Parents Council and LIFT Muirhouse Millennium Centre from North Edinburgh.

Labour nominally runs Edinburgh, propped up by Lib Dem and Tory support. Last year, under the leadership of now-suspended Cammy Day, the administration controversially adopted a Lib-Dem budget.

Labour, and the City of Edinburgh Council, is now under new leadership, but the perennial challenge of meeting an increasing demand for services with never quite enough financial resources remains as tough as ever.

As councils try to balance the books a painful Council Tax increase is inevitable.

Earlier this week COSLA’s Resource Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann, warned: “Councils are working hard to deliver every day for our communities. However, budget cuts, inflation, higher costs such as the increase to employers’ national insurance contributions, and the previous freezes on council tax mean councils have unfortunately had to make difficult decisions to avoid reducing or cutting essential services.

“Council tax is one of the few options councils have to raise money to invest in local improvements such as roads; community halls and leisure centres; and public transport. These are services that benefit us all, but especially the people in our communities who might need extra support – such as children and young people, parents with young children, elderly people, or those with disabilities. With this in mind, councils are carefully considering what increase is necessary and appropriate for them locally.

“Reform of council tax is overdue and COSLA wishes to see a Council Tax that is fair and proportionate for all householders.

“Councils have advice and support services in place to help people who are struggling to pay their council tax or having financial difficulties. We recommend speaking to the council tax and benefits department in your council to find out more.”

Today, National Leadership Day incidentally, we’ll hear the respective political parties put forward their vision for Scotland’s capital city. Just what kind of city does Edinburgh want to be?

Tough choices? Of course, but it’s also an opportunity to begin to restore Edinburgh’s battered reputation.

It’s time for real leadership.

Supplement Deputations 20022025 1000 City of Edinburgh CouncilDownload

The council budget debate starts at 10am and is also broadcast live on the City of Edinburgh Council webcast site

PAPERS for this morning’s budget meeting can be found on the council website.

EVOC: No Time to Lose

A Third Sector Response to the Draft EIJB Strategic Plan for 2025-28

In response to the EIJB consultation inviting people and organisations to have a say on the draft Strategic Plan for 2025 – 28, the Third Sector Reference Group is working on a contribution on behalf of our sector.

This is another in a series of actions in light of the future funding crisis third sector organisations are facing across the city.

Download the draft Strategic Plan

Take Action

Your input to this response is vital and we would ask any and all third sector groups and organisations to share your hopes, fears and priorities, by answering the 9 questions in this short survey.

You are also encouraged to submit a separate response individually, feeding back on the identified priorities, planned actions and measures of success.

You can find out more and submit a response to the consultation here.

Please be aware that the deadline for the consultation submission is extremely tight – Sunday 23rd Feb 2025. 

This is strongly influencing the actions we are focusing on to deliver the best outcome for the sector.

The Reference Group has pulled together several resources that you might find useful:

EIJB draft Strategic Plan 25-28Download

Ward 14 Question Time

Monday 10th February at 6.30pm

On Monday 10th February at 6:30pm, members of The Ripple project and residents of Ward 14 will get the chance to speak to their local councillors.

Have you ever seen Question Time or even better Debate Night? If the answer is yes, then you know how important a local event like this can be.

If not, then read the quick explainer on the event below.

Members of The Ripple project and the wider community of Ward 14 will have the opportunity to put questions to our local representatives. After a question-and-answer session each councillor will have the opportunity to detail their priorities for the upcoming year or make any other address they deem appropriate.

Tristan Green, The Ripple Community Action Worker who will be chairing the evening said: “‘I am delighted that all four of our local councillors committed to this event with such enthusiasm.

“Events like this can help reduce the barriers that make it so hard for regular people to engage with politics at a local level. It is a groundbreaking evening for this ward and I am looking forward to some healthy debate’.

Rachel Green, Director added: ‘Genuine engagement by elected members is becoming essential at a time when more and more is being asked of the third sector and local communities. 

” Only by knowing what is important to local people can our councillors serve the communities who elected them”.

Local people can submit any questions they would like to ask on the night using this form https://forms.office.com/e/FBVRMy2wFi

Four councillors currently represent the Craigentinny/Duddingston Ward:

  • Danny Aston, Scottish National Party (SNP)
  • Joan Griffiths, Scottish Labour
  • Alex Staniforth, Scottish Green Party
  • Iain Whyte, Scottish Conservatives 

This meeting is taking place ahead of the City of Edinburgh Councils budget announcement for 2025/26.

EIJB funding crisis: Agenda for tomorrow’s conference

To attendees and those who wished to be kept in touch about conference developments:

Hi,

Thank you for attending the workshop on Saturday or for expressing an interest in campaign developments. We will produce a written report on the conclusions arising out of the discussion at the plenary session of the workshop.

Attached is the agenda for the workshop on Saturday,

One of the key issues to be discussed at the workshop is the City Council’s response to the proposed cut in funding to third sector organisations.

The cut will take effect on 30/6/25. However, we understand that Council action to mitigate the effects of the cuts will be discussed during the Council’s budget setting meeting on 20/2/25.

There may need to be a lobby of the Council meeting.

Regards,

Des Loughney
Secretary
Edinburgh TUC

EDINBURGH SOCIAL CARE CAMPAIGN – THE WAY FORWARD

Unitecd Augustine Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL

Workshop Saturday 18th January 2025

AGENDA

Chair: Ian Mullen (UNISON City of Edinburgh Council Branch)

9.30 am – 10.00 am: Tea/ coffee and biscuits.

10.00 am – 11 am. Introduction to workshop

Des Loughney – Secretary, UNITE Edinburgh Not For Profit Branch (1)

Councillor Tim Pogson – Vice Chair of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (2)

Denise Ritchie: Fair Work Project Officer, Scottish Trades Union Congress (3)

Linda Sommerville: Deputy General Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress. (3)

11am to 12.30pm Working Groups ( two)

12.30 pm to 1.00 pm – Plenary Session and summing up.

Speakers:

  1. Des Loughney will comment on the impact of the proposed EIJB cuts on services and third sector worker terms and conditions. The impact includes compulsory redundancies and downgrading of contracts of employment from guaranteed working weeks to zero hour contracts,
  2. Councillor Tim Pogson will update us on the response of the Council to the proposed EIJB cuts. The City Council is seeking to mitigate the impact of the cuts on the third sector.
  3. Denise Ritchie and Linda Sommervile will brief the workshop on proposed campaigning activity at a local level and a Scottish level.
agenda18_1_25 (1)Download

Granton Information Centre delighted with feedback survey response

Thanks to everyone who has given us feedback so far by completing our survey!

GIC are passionate about providing the best possible service to our clients and we are delighted with the results and the many positive comments we’ve received since April:

EIJB funding crisis: The Third Sector relationship with the EIJB

THIRD SECTOR INTERFACE BRIEFING NOTE:

The financial situation of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) is very challenging. In 2025/26, the IJB seek to realise around £51m of savings. Future years will see further savings required, currently estimated to be £76m in 2026/27 and £105m in 2027/28.  

These savings will be difficult and their impact will be substantial.  So, managing change, and ensuring key services are delivered to communities will require collaboration by the IJB and city partners, including the Third Sector.

Reference Group

On November 1 2024, Third Sector representatives presented deputations to the EIJB challenging proposals around the Third Sector Grants Programme and an in-year cut (2024/2025). The IJB did not approve the proposal for the in-year cut with an alternative proposal being approved. 

Following that meeting, the IJB invited Third Sector representatives to talk through concerns and identify areas to work together. To inform those meetings, EVOC and their TSI partners collaborated with the Edinburgh Community Health Forum and representatives of other Third Sector interests across the city to create a Reference Group.

The purpose of the Reference Group is to:

  1. inform governance and city partnerships
  2. assert the value of the Sector
  3. shape investment
  4. support change
  5. distil the voices of the Third Sector to effectively represent the sector on the IJB

EIJB Engagement and Proposals

The Reference Group has rapidly considered the short-term issues around funding, and the longer-term issues of future partnership models, sharing a briefing note with the IJB on issues and options in early December. The engagement with EIJB has been positive given the difficult circumstances, and this positive engagement has resulted in an EIJB paper to the December Board which recommends:

  • That the Health Inequalities grants programme, due to end on 31 March 2025 should be extended for three months into 2025/26 which will help provide time for the organisations affected to adapt.
  • The Board support work currently underway to undertake a series of collaborative workshops which will inform some of the savings proposals and invest-to-save opportunities that will be submitted for consideration by the EIJB in March 2025.

In the current landscape this is a positive outcome for the Third Sector, informed directly by the voice, needs and priorities of the Sector.

City of Edinburgh Council Engagement and Proposals

Given the challenges to funding for the Third Sector and the impact cuts will have to the viability of Third Sector Organisations, the Reference Group have also argued the need for a cross city partnership approach to investment.

Following the November 1 EIJB meeting, the TSI wrote to the Chair of the EIJB, the Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian asserting the need to [a] reset investment [b] reform ways of working [c] repair relationships. In the immediate term, a key priority is to secure a commitment from City of Edinburgh to invest to mitigate the risks to critical and anchor organisations.

On December 10 the Council Policy and Sustainability Committee considered and approved a proposal that recognised that the Council may need to provide core or foundational funding to stabilise vital third sector organisations. The TSI with ECHF collaborated to present a joint deputation, welcoming the Council proposal, and offering support.

Council officers were instructed to:

  • Work on a briefing paper for the Council’s political groups on what the Third sector needs now, specifically transitional funding, medium term, ahead of the Council setting its budget in February;
  • Undertake a review of all grant funding, exploring the provision of longer term, sustainable funding;
  • Work with the Edinburgh Partnership and Third Sector to co-design solutions, and agree terms of reference for a short life group and report back to Policy and Sustainability Committee in March.

Priorities: December EIJB meeting and Future Planning

The Reference Group will continue to meet and shape the next steps. An immediate priority is to agree on Terms of Reference and confirm representatives in the Group. We will be sharing a set of proposals before Christmas for your consideration.

A strong voice is essential to shape the long-term relationship with the EIJB and in particular the workshop series in spring 2025.

The Edinburgh TSI with EVOC and others from the Reference Group will support the paper to the EIJB on December 17 on progress on the Third Sector Grants Programme and the next steps in working collaboratively with the Sector, and also with the City of Edinburgh Council.

The EIJB Paper is available here: 6.3 Third Sector Commissioning 25-26 Engagement Update.pdf

If you need any further information in advance of the IJB meeting tomorrow (Tuesday 17 December), please get in touch with us or reach out to any member of the Reference Group.

We will also provide regular briefings on progress, through the fortnightly EVOC E-news and targeted updates on key information as necessary.

Dairmaid Lawlor, TSI Chair