A HEARTBROKEN support worker at a charity for disabled children has hit out at Glasgow City Council’s ‘devastating’ decision to cut its funding.

Danielle Fraser says the time she spent at Buddies Clubs and Services was a ‘huge part’ of her life.

“Buddies was not just a job, it was my life and working with these young people turned me in to the person I am today,” she said.

“It is an amazing charity, which runs after school services five days a week, a Sunday club which has a waiting list, holiday clubs, evening groups for young adults and adventure breaks.

“It was started in 1994 by a group of parents whose children were disabled and because of their disabilities, those children were denied the freedom to play with their peers.

Glasgow Times:

“Existence for most of them was school and home – social life nil.”

We revealed in yesterday’s Glasgow Times that Buddies is facing closure after news its funding may be cancelled.

The club has received annual grants from the council for more than 20 years, to help pay for a significant part of its running costs.

Money for city charities was previously allocated through the Integrated Grant Fund but the council has closed this and instead created the new Glasgow Communities Fund, which it says is more accessible. There is now more competition for the same amount of money.

Buddies manager Julie Cowan says this decision to remove funding is ‘devastating’.

“Buddies is unique, offering services from nursery to after-school to outreach – without us, 180 families will have nowhere else to go,” she added.

“How can they do this to us, after all these years? To give us no reason, no explanation – it’s shocking.”

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Danielle added: “We get to know our families before we offer services. We now have more than 180 families using Buddies so the news that it won’t be funded any more is devastating for all of them and for us.

“At Buddies, you create bonds that can’t be broken, you create friendship for life.

“Its services are not just about giving parents the odd day off, they are about improving families’ lives. I’m heartbroken about this.”