Impact of HSCP funding cuts to Third Sector in East Dunbartonshire

East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action (EDVA) are extremely concerned by recent cuts which have seen East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership disinvest in two services and apply 10% efficiency cuts effective from Q4 and a 10% cut effective for 25/26. Staff at EDVA are already hearing about the impact this will have on organisations supporting some of the most vulnerable members of the community including frail elderly people, carers, those fleeing domestic violence and people with long term physical and mental health conditions.

EDICT, a long- running organisation in East Dunbartonshire, is ceasing activities, meaning the loss of a service and redundancies.

Local service, the OPAL Line, will not operate after the end of December. The loss of this will mean that many people who rely on it to signpost or refer them to various sources of support may struggle to find the help they are looking for. The OPAL line is also used by many GPs, pharmacists and social care workers in order to access support for their clients. It will also mean four redundancies across the organisations who jointly run the service (Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB), Ceartas and Carers Link).

The local community response groups, which grew from the community response to Covid and run entirely with volunteers will be impacted, as referrals to them come via OPAL. 

From speaking to local charities EDVA are aware that while the full extent of impact is not yet known, several are already identifying that staffing levels are likely to be affected by compulsory reduction in hours or redundancies, which will inevitably impact on service delivery.

Ann Innes, Chief Officer of EDVA said; “While we understand the huge challenge the HSCP faces in finding savings, the Third Sector plays a significant role in contributing to the health and wellbeing of a huge number of people in East Dunbartonshire. In many cases these cuts come on top of several years of static funding, which in real terms has meant organisations have already created efficiency savings through measures such as reducing or not replacing staff, not being able to increase salaries, or giving up premises, while still trying to prioritise the services they provide. These recent cuts are a further blow to organisations already feeling the pressure of rising costs and greater competition for funding from grants and trusts. The fact that the 10% is being applied from quarter 4 of the 24/25 financial year as well as 10% in 25/26 causes even greater pressure to the organisations, coming as it does when expected funding for this year will have been incorporated into their budgeting.

We know that there will continue to be huge pressure on public services. We therefore urge that going forward the HSCP will work with the Third Sector to truly collaborate to find effective solutions that provide support to those who need it, acknowledging the role that both the HSCP and the Third Sector play in ensuring the best for communities in East Dunbartonshire.”