Unison and staff from the mental health charity met with council officials last week
Campaigners fighting to save threatened charity Glasgow Association for Mental Health (GAMH) from a 40% funding drop say it is time for the city’s councillors to step in and stop the cuts.
Trade union Unison, together with staff and service users from GAMH, met with councillor Malcolm Cunning, executive member for social care at Glasgow City Council, last week to demand a halt to the proposed funding cut.
Councillor Cunning offered GAMH no words of comfort, saying a decision on funding had not yet been made, leaving staff and service users in limbo as they wait to hear the council’s plans.
Deborah Dyer, Unison regional organiser, said: “The strength of feeling was obvious at our demonstration last week – staff, service users, community groups all standing together against these cuts. But now, a week later, the council remains silent.
“On one hand councillor Cunning is telling us that a decision has not been reached and on the other that council officials have the delegated authority to make these decisions.
“Saving lives is too important to be turned into a political football and we need Glasgow’s councillors to stand up and do what we elected them to do – it’s time for action not words.”
Chrissy McKeag, a GAMH support worker, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with the support we’ve received for our campaign. Nearly 3,500 people have signed our petition in the last week and support is mounting across the city.
The most vulnerable voices are also the quietest, and we need to stand together to make sure their voices are heard
“We’re calling on the people of Glasgow to get behind us once again and contact their local councillor and ask them to stop these cuts; write to them, email them or go along to their surgeries and ask for their support.
“The most vulnerable voices are also the quietest, and we need to stand together to make sure their voices are heard.”
A city council spokesman said: “We have been working with providers to inform them of the reality of the public finances so they can plan accordingly.”
