Midlothian charities are to stage protests after recent proposals by the council to pull all of their funding.
The cuts forecast by Midlothian Council will see a 100 per cent reduction to grants received by large and small charitable groups.
This is predicted to have a “catastrophic” impact on services such as counselling for young people, mental health groups, community cafes and food banks which could all be lost. Valued local organisations such as HSL transport and Volunteer Midlothian are among those to be affected.
One of the protests is due to happen on, February 15 at 10am outside of Midlothian House, Dalkeith with more planned for the end of the month.
Natalie Thompson, Lead Development worker for Midlothian Voluntary Action, said: “We were absolutely devastated when we saw the paper on the proposed cuts.
“To see a 100 percent cut to a funding program which enables charities to deliver key frontline services was really shocking. The cuts are going to affect the oldest and the youngest residents of Midlothian and most vulnerable as well.”
Natalie, 36, has worked for the voluntary action for four years and has lived in Edinburgh all of her life.
She went onto highlight how these planned cuts could impact funding to community transport for disabled and elderly people which is seen as a “lifeline” during the cost-of-living-crisis that continues to impact so many.
Natalie went onto say: “There is no end to amount of people who will be impacted.” Along with her colleagues, Natalie created data that estimates that approximately 14,850 will be affected.
A Midlothian Council spokesman said: “The proposed funding cuts to support community transport services and the third sector are among a range of potential savings that will be considered by councillors to help bridge a projected budget gap of £13.87m in 2023/24 rising to a projected £25.94m by 2027/28.
“We’ve also been asking local people and organisations to comment on the savings and we’ve had around 1800 responses. Councillors will be considering that feedback before any final decisions are made when the budget is set on Tuesday 21 February.
“No Midlothian councillors want to make these cuts but the council must, by law, balance its budget.”
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