A £50,000 grant from the Scottish Government has temporarily saved the threatened Edinburgh charity from closure
An Edinburgh charity which faced imminent closure has been given a reprieve.
The campaign to Save Dads Rock went viral, and now emergency funding from the Scottish Government will allow the group to continue for the time being.
Deputy first minister John Swinney revealed this morning (Friday) that £50,000 would be provided to the charity to help it through the crisis.
Dads Rock national development manager Thomas Lynch said that the funds will allow the group to continue for the immediate future.
The support we have had since announcing our funding situation has been overwhelming,” he said. “We have had offers of help as well as donations. It’s been quite a week. This award from the Scottish Government is fantastic.
“We would like to thank deputy first minister John Swinney, as well as Jeremy Balfour MSP and everyone else who has helped. We’re not out of the woods yet, and would ask people to continue to support us to Save Dads Rock.”
The situation of the group – which provides playgroups, antenatal classes, counselling and other support in Wester Hailes, Granton, Craigmillar and Edinburgh city centre for fathers and their children – was raised to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon by Lothian MSP Jeremy Balfour.
Sturgeon said she had seen firsthand the excellent work of the group and would examine what could be done to help save Dad’s Rock.
The organisation will receive £35,000 from the Scottish Government, which will enable the group to continue its work with young fathers, playgroups and antenatal groups to continue.
In addition, the organisation will receive a further £15,000 to evaluate the benefits of its work, in order to help it apply for funding in future.
Swinney said: ”I hugely value the important support Dads Rock provides to parents, particularly fathers, and I was very concerned to hear it was in jeopardy because of a funding shortfall.”
The charity was founded five years ago and has four paid members of staff – two of whom faced redundancy before Christmas if adequate funding was not secured.
The group has been working throughout the year to source funds, but has been knocked back by the Big Lottery Fund and Children in Need.
To support Dads Rock, visit a special website which has been set up or search #savedadsrock on social media.
