Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP
GORGIE DALRY GAZETTE 277
February 2008
Edinburgh Council will be considering proposed budget cuts during February and March.
A Council document has shown that cuts of around £800,000 to the voluntary and community sector are being considered by local Councillors. The proposals include a list of organisations across Edinburgh that could have their funding cut.
Gorgie City Farm, North Merchiston Club and Gorgie Dalry Partnership are all on that list along with 28 other voluntary organisations.
According to the Council document, Gorgie City Farm could lose 75% of it’s council funding under these proposed cuts. This is a popular facility that is well used by local families particularly during the school holidays when they have a fantastic programme of events. It can often be the only opportunity that city children have to see and learn about farm animals. I visited it a lot with my children.
As well as the cuts to voluntary organisations they’ve also introduced the threat of ‘village hall’ status for some of our community centres which would see them operating with minimal staff. They suggest that local people might take on tasks where there’s a reduction in the professional staff.
The final decision on individual grants is in March.
I am always inspired by the work carried out in the voluntary sector. They provide and achieve a great deal for the people in our communities who will benefit most. One of the biggest challenges faced by voluntary groups year after year is securing adequate and stable funding for their projects. After working hard to secure these often modest funds they then work even harder to make that money go as far as possible. So this news that’s been leaking out over the last couple of weeks is devastating for these organisations.
Many of these projects are small and have only one full time worker. They rely on volunteers from the community to operate. But it will be a sad day for Gorgie and Dalry if these valuable resources are forced to close their doors.
