A CONCERNED mum-of-two fears she could be forced to leave her dream job if a Clydebank out-of-school-care (OSC) group is axed.

Cheryl Downie told the Post she relies on Linnvale Primary School’s OSC group to take care of her children for a couple of hours a day to allow her to go to work at a West Dunbartonshire charity.

The former hairdresser spent six years completing adult learning courses run by West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) to become a youth work assistant. She explained she has worked hard over the past year to earn her current position.

Now, Cheryl feels like the local authority is ‘trying to take her job away from her’ as they propose to close Linnvale and nearby St Eunan’s OSC groups – for a second time in just over a year - due to “rapidly reducing budgets”.

The proposal to close these clubs will be presented at WDC’s budget setting meeting tonight where councillors will work to plug an £8.3m budget gap.

Cheryl said: “The first time they [WDC] proposed to do this [December 2022] I had only just started working at the charity and now I’ve worked my way up, worked hard for it and earned my position.

“The thought of having to give it up now is so stressful. Since I found out I’ve had butterflies in my stomach because it’s not just myself that this affects it’s the other working parents too.

“The last time this happened the parents who use the service created a group chat where we discussed what we could do about it.

“We re-sent emails to councillors pleading with them. Even if they were to close the out-of-school-care groups it’s not going to make a dimple never mind a dent in what they’re trying to save.

“Ridiculous amounts of money are getting spent, here, there, and everywhere by the council and yet we’re having to scrape back from education and from parents who are trying to work.

“It’s phenomenally ridiculous to me that they’re cutting education again.”

An email, seen by the Post, sent to parents, carers, and guardians who use the OSC clubs at Linnvale and St Eunan’s WDC notes that the reason for this proposal is due to “reduced usage”.

Cheryl hit back at this statement claiming that the group at Linnvale is currently operating “one or two kids” below capacity.

The mum-of-two added that if this group was to close “there is nothing” in the local area that parents could fall back on.

Cheryl said: “They [WDC] didn’t do their research last time and I bet they haven’t done their research this time.

“Last time they said it was due to a lack of usage but we were at capacity. This time Linnvale is just under capacity by maybe one or two kids but we’re over the minimum amount that you would need to run the service.

“I’ve been doing my research and looking about for alternative options. However, since the G81 Kids Club were basically kicked out of their building there is nothing around here, the nearest place is Dalmuir but then it’s a case of ‘how am I going to get my kids to Dalmuir?’

“I don’t drive, I have to get public transport and realistically I don’t think my bosses would be happy with me having to leave every day to go and pick my kids up from school, take them to after-school-care, and then come back to work.

“It’s unrealistic. The fact there are still so many kids in the OSC shows there is still a need for it.

“If they take it away then there’s nothing in the area that we can fall back on so therefore parents are either going to have to pay astronomical prices on trying to hire someone to take care of their kids so they can finish work or look into alternative and this is the thing there are no alternatives in this area there is no other childcare/OSC groups available.

“It’s absolutely heartbreaking and it’s one of these ones where they [WDC] provide these services for a reason and now they’re closing due to their own ineffective spending it’s us who suffer because they don’t know how to manage their money properly.”

A WDC spokesperson said: “This proposal will be considered by elected members during a budget meeting on March 6.

“No decision can or will made in advance of this date."