Dads Rock has launched an urgent appeal for support - with its funding due to dry up before Christmas
A campaign has been launched to save an innovative father focused family support service which faces closure.
Dads Rock provides assistance to around 1,000 fathers and children in Edinburgh, but the charity has launched an urgent appeal as its funding is due to end within weeks.
Two members of staff face redundancy before Christmas unless running costs for the next few weeks can be found while the organisation continues with applications for funding.
“We want to be upfront with people and tell them that we need their help,” said national development manager Thomas Lynch.
“We have some applications in the pipeline, but if people are able to donate then that is great.
“At the moment, as it stands, we are going to let go of people unless funds are secured. We do have a limited amount of funds which mean we would be able to continue into 2018, but that would be on a very much reduced basis.”
The charity was founded five years ago, and has four paid members of staff. With music at its foundation, Dads Rock provides playgroups, antenatal classes, counselling and other support in Wester Hailes, Granton, Craigmillar and Edinburgh city centre.
The group has been working throughout the year to source funding, but so far its efforts have failed to bear fruit.
Lynch said: “From the start of the year we have made two applications to the Big Lottery Fund, and also to Children In Need and the People’s Postcode Lottery, but they were unsuccessful.
“We are still working on grant applications, it was the end of October when we heard of our last unsuccessful one, but we have had to speak to the families we work with to inform them where we are at.
“I think it is just the usual reason that we have been hearing from funders really – that competition is really tough and there is not much money to go around.”
Dads Rock has set up a special website to allow supporters to donate towards the organisation, and has received widespread support on social media since the appeal was launched on Tuesday morning.
