Assemble at 9am outside Edinburgh City Chambers on Friday, 1 November

A demonstration will be held against cuts which will devastate the voluntary sector in Edinburgh.

As previously reported in TFN, charities will be forced to close and communities left in limbo if planned cuts to community health and social care organisations go ahead. 

A report published last week by the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board (IJB) warned that “job losses may be disproportionate in areas of deprivation” as a result of pulling £700,000 in the current year and £4.5 million next year. 

The IJB, funded jointly by the NHS health board and the council, has proposed axing its grants programme, withdrawing money from 64 organisations across the city.

Its 2024/25 grants programme would be ended prematurely and no grants programme would return in 2025/26. 

A demonstration against the cuts will take place at 9am outside Edinburgh City Chambers on Friday, 1 November.

It is being organised by the charities and communities affected.

These include the Family Advice & Information Resource (FAIR), a free information and advice service for people with learning disabilities, their families, carers and supporters.

It has been running since 1991 but is one of the organisations that could close if the cuts go ahead.