A 40% budget cut could make Glasgow Association of Mental Health non-viable
Vulnerable people will end up on the street and in jail cells if council cuts force a charity to close.
The Glasgow Association of Mental Health (GAMH), which helps more than 1,000 people a week, is facing “devastation” after its budget was cut almost in half.
Glasgow City council is to slash funding to the group, which helps some of society’s most vulnerable people, including those suffering with paranoia, schizophrenia, depression and personality disorders.
Doctors, addiction services, housing associations and hospitals all refer clients to Glashow Association of Mental Health (GAMH) for treatments.
The service is facing devastation. Cuts of 40% would render us non viable
However, the city council is to slash its budget by 40%, leading to job losses.
The service has 125 staff and a previous 8% cut saw 27 people put out of work.
Staff say the cut is so drastic it is the equivalent to a closure notice.
A source said: “The service is facing devastation. Cuts of 40% would render us non viable. Around 1,000 people would be left without their support. This is despite council protestations that they would support all those known to them.”
Trade union Unison has vowed to fight the cuts and made a dire warning of the service “melt down” if the cuts go ahead.
Official Deborah Dyer said: “People will end up in acute beds, in police cells and on the street. Closing a charity down, which is effectively what they are doing, is irresponsible. The council is demanding they provide a city-wide service while making cuts at 40%.
"GAMH has realistically said it can't offer a city-wide service and warned them it would put the whole viability of the charity at risk.
"The council is hoping this will just disappear quietly to hide the fact they are in crisis with their budget. This isn't how you treat people.
"The leader of the council is advocating that he will look after the health and mental wellbeing of the people of Glasgow - he's not doing that.
"I don't believe there has been proper consultation as closing a charity like this will end up costing the city money."
A council spokesman said: "The majority of service users who use GAMH are not known to social work, but those who are will continue to be supported by social work services.
"The council's budget for the next financial year has still to be agreed and so decisions on individual funding awards have still to be taken.
"However, even after years of huge pressure on the council's budget, it has been widely anticipated that further savings will be required.
"Where appropriate we have been working with providers to inform them of the reality of the public finances so they can plan accordingly."
