Fight to save charity Buddies after shock Glasgow City Council funding decision

Bosses at Buddies, which has been working in Glasgow since 1994 and now supports 180 families, said its future is now in "jeopardy".

The charity normally receives an annual grant from Glasgow City Council but this year it, like many others, has been turned down for funding.

Jane Hook, chief executive and founder of Buddies, said the news was devastating.

She said the charity relies on the annual funding boost from the council to help it with staffing costs as high staff ratios are needed for the children and adults it supports.

Jane, who is a Glasgow Times Community Champion winner, said: "We have had funding from the council for a long time, at least the past 20 years, so we simply cannot understand why this decision has been taken.

"We are at a loss. At a complete loss.

"The SNP administration has said that it is clearing up Labour's mess, in relation to this change of funding but our children and adults should not be caught up in politics.

"It is totally inappropriate and basically a shambles.

"We are pretty well distraught and the future of Buddies is now in jeopardy."

Money for city charities was previously allocated through the Integrated Grant Fund but the council agreed to close this and instead create the new Glasgow Communities Fund, which it says is more accessible.

There is now more competition for the same amount of money with applications being scored from zero to five on six criteria.

Decisions on awards will be made at City Administration Committee later this week, but officers have now made their recommendations to members on which applications should be approved.

Buddies, for the past six years, has received around £102,300 from the council, a significant part of its running costs.

The charity grew from being a small volunteer group in Blowarthill Parish Church to this year moving to a new, larger home in the Southbrae Centre, Scotstoun.

As well as the 180 families currently supported, there are a further 80 on a waiting list for help for children and adults with complex needs.

Buddies also runs a nursery for children from zero to five years old as well as after school and holiday clubs, and groups for adults aged 35 and over.

Dad Kyle McCormick said Buddies has helped shape his life, having started off as a volunteer 'buddy' at the service in 1996 when it ran out of the church hall.

Now his son, Michael, 15, attends the after school service on a Wednesday and goes to respite with the charity during school holidays.

He had hoped his 12-year-old daughter, Grace, who has Aspergers syndrome, would also be able to join Buddies.

Kyle said: "I fully appreciate the council has to make cuts, even without the coronavirus crisis I'm sure things would have been difficult, but it seems to be disabled people who are being asked to bear the brunt of it.

"Mikey just loves it. He just gets so much from it and the staff in there are amazing.

"He would feel a massive void if he wasn't going to Buddies any more.

"He has lots of friends there and he is treated as a person, as an individual, and very well respected.

"We are hoping our younger daughter Grace will also be able to go into Buddies and if it closes, where will she go? There aren't enough services in the area.

"Working with Buddies when I was at school was an experience that has stayed with me.

"These are the things that shape you and I wouldn't be where I am today without it."

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “Demand for grant support has been exceptional – with applications received for well over double the total value of the fund.

"Unfortunately, this was always going to mean disappointment for some organisations with applications that scored less highly during assessment.

"Decisions on citywide grants will be made at committee later this week – followed by a further round of local awards."

The local awards – totalling the majority of the funding at around £33m – will be allocated to the community planning partnership areas to agree.