COUNCILLORS are being urged to block funding cuts to a mental health charity.

Campaigners from the threatened Glasgow Association for Mental Health (GAMH) are asking community leaders to step in to help.

The charity could lose more than £800,000 of funding in the latest money-saving proposals by Glasgow City Council.

Now staff and service users are vying to stop the cuts being confirmed, and asking city residents to contact councillors to highlight their plight.

Campaigners held a meeting with social work boss Malcolm Cunning last week demanding a halt to the plans, and staged a protest outside the City Chambers attended by hundreds of people.

Deborah Dyer, of trade union Unison has been helping the 120 staff who face redundancy if the service should close.

She said: "Saving lives is too important to be turned into a political football and we need Glasgow's councillors to stand up and do what we elected them to do - it's time for action not words."

A petition, set up by the organisation last week has more than 3,500 signatures.

Chrissy McKeag, a support worker with GAMH, said: "We have been overwhelmed with the support for our campaign. Nearly 3500 people have signed our petition in the last week and support is mounting.

"We are calling on the people of Glasgow to get behind us once again and contact their local councillor and ask them to stop these cuts; write to them, email them or go along to their surgeries and ask for their support.

"The most vulner-able voices are also the quietest, and we need to stand together to make sure their voices are heard."

A council spokesman said the cuts are yet to be confirmed, but added the budget has been under "huge pressure" and the savings have been "widely anticipated".

He also said that the members of GAMH who are registered with the department will be supported.

hannah.rodger@eveningtimes.co.uk