PROTESTERS rallied in George square following a majority vote to cut funding to a mental health charity.

 

Campaigners from the Glasgow Association for Mental Health (GAMH) gathered outside the city chambers after the council executive committee meeting yesterday morning.

During the session nine elected members voted in favour of the plans to cut the charity's funding by 40%, which formed part of an overall review of mental health services throughout the city.

Representatives from GAMH attended the heated meeting and heckled councillors as they discussed the proposals.

Councillor Malcolm Cunning, executive member for Social care, said the proposals would create a £1.8million saving in the council's budget and added that the funding cut to GAMH is due to a reduction in work they would be required to do.

He added: "It is not that we will be saying to GAMH 'Carry on doing everything you will be doing for less'.

"There is an area of work we have identified you should continue to do and we are very pleased with the work you are doing, but there is an area where there is a duplication of work and another provider is in a better position to continue to provide that across the city.

"A consultation was carried out at considerable length with the providers and there have been continuous meetings with various organisations over the past couple of months."

Opposition councillors strongly argued against the plans, with three SNP and two Green party members raising concerns about the knock-on effects of the cuts.

Leader of the opposition Susan Aitken said previously the group had raised concerns about preventative services being affected by social work reforms and added: "We were assure at the time that would not be the case, that the council would continue to work with associations like GAMH,named as one of the key organisations providing those vital services which stop people becoming social work clients and keep them out of the social work system."

She also warned the measures "would not make any saving at all in the long term."

Irate staff members left the meeting and gathered for a protest outside the city chambers, joined by hundreds of colleagues and service users.

Deborah Dyer, regional unison representative, said: "The work that GAMH carry out across the city saves more than just money - it saves lives - and we can't turn our backs on the people who rely on this essential service. GAMH cannot continue to provide a city-wide service on the budget suggested and, given the city stands to lose millions through the closure of this charity, serious questions have to be raised about the council's fiscal competence.

"Councillors face making a life or death decision and we want them to stand up for the city's most vulnerable - save GAMH, save public money and, most importantly, save lives."

The Evening Times understands charity bosses have already requested 29 voluntary redundancies from current staff members, and the organisation may be forced to close entirely if the funding cuts go ahead.