The Scottish Community Safety Network has said it does not understand the reasons behind the cuts.
A charity and membership group representing Scotland’s community safety sector has warned ministers intend to cut its grant funding by 50% next year.
The Scottish Community Safety Network (SCSN) confirmed in a message to its membership that from the beginning of April, the organisation will receive just half of the grant funding from the Scottish Government that it received for 2023/24.
SCSN brings together representatives from across the community safety sector to achieve a shared vision, and also hosts Home Safety Scotland, a forum of home safety organisations and professionals.
SCSN said the government advised the cut is due to the withdrawal of support for work on home safety, with Home Safety Scotland being “deprioritised” following a review of the expenditure within Building Safer Communities - which prioritises work aligned to the Justice Vision (2023-26).
Talks are now underway to protect the charity and help understand why such a significant cut has been decided upon.
A statement from the chair of SCSN, Jennifer Middlemiss, said: “Just before the break, the Scottish Community Safety Network met with the Scottish Government to discuss their grant commitments to the network for the financial year 2024/2025.
“Sadly, the news we received was not good and we would like to take this opportunity to provide you with some brief details, so you are informed as our membership, but also to offer you the opportunity to provide comment on the outcome from the Scottish Government.
“For the period 01 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the SCSN will receive 50% less in grant funding from the Scottish Government than we received for the current year.
“The Scottish Government has advised the SCSN that this is due to the withdrawal of support for our work on home safety; we understand that overall, Home Safety Scotland has been deprioritised following a review of the expenditure within Building Safer Communities which prioritises work aligned to the Justice Vision, 2023-26.
“The SCSN are discussing this with the Government firstly, as we feel this is an important piece of work that is being lost, but secondly as this work only represents 16% of SCSN activity, so does not equate to the full reduction in funding.”
SCSN has asked its members to get in touch to share their own thoughts on the proposed cuts.
The charity’s chair added: “This is of course disappointing and there will be an impact on our work and our membership.
“The board along with Lorraine (Gillies), SCSN’s chief officer, are continuing to engage with the Scottish Government to understand why such a substantial reduction has been decided and the impact this will have on our delivery and staffing model, and ultimately the outcomes that can be feasibly achieved within Building Safer Communities and the support we can provide to CSPs and member organisations.
“We are particularly interested to hear from you on what you think we should be prioritising within the funding allocation we will now have, taking into account a potential reduction in staff and capacity, and whether you think there are avenues we could or should explore for other funding to complement that of the Scottish Government.”
TFN asked the Scottish Government the reasons for the cut, and whether the they had any concerns about services no longer being provided as a result of this cut.
A Scottish Government spokesperson told TFN: “The Building Safer Communities strategy, which included funding for a number of third sector partners to deliver home safety and accident prevention initiatives, was completed in 2021/22.
“This prevention work continues but is now embedded in a range of other Scottish Government strategy and policy initiatives including health, resilience and early years.
“We value the work of the Scottish Community Safety Network and hope to take forward and fund a number of initiatives with them that are aligned to the Vision for Justice in the next financial year.”
