Redundancies, grievances and a fall out with the board lead to concerns over a vital fund
Victim Support Scotland (VSS) is in disarray after six staff were given redundancy notices, key board members resigned and a leading accountant was brought in to undertake an external review on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Board members had talks last week with officials from the government's justice directorate to discuss the current situation after some employees lodged grievances against the management.
Jim Andrews, deputy chief executive business support and David Sinclair, communications manager, are two of the senior employees facing redundancy.
In addition, two receptionists, business delivery manager and partnership development manager Jim Evans have been told their posts are being axed.
It has been reported the management of the organisation has been at odds with the board for some time with the issue only now spilling out publicly.
VSS is totally committed to protecting its frontline services - Susan Gallagher
The situation is so serious that KPMG has been brought in by the Scottish Government to carry out an external review of the charity which has an annual income of some £4 million.
Sinclair confirmed he is one of the employees taking out a grievance against the charity.
He said: "I was informed by a colleague while on annual leave that I was being made compulsorily redundant.
"As a result of the process followed, I have lodged a formal grievance with VSS which has still to be heard. Because the proposal has serious implications for my professional reputation I have little option but to pursue that grievance up to and including a tribunal and other legal means."
There are concerns the upheaval will affect the organisations’ ability to deliver a new fund created to help victims and witnesses of crime
The fund amounts to some £1.2m a year which would also support groups delivering vital services such as Scottish Women’s Aid.
Acting chief executive of VSS Susan Gallagher said: "VSS is totally committed to protecting its frontline services and has recently undertaken a robust financial and operational review to ensure the organisation best meets its charitable aims.
"We are proposing to slim down our HQ so we can further support our frontline activities. VSS is therefore in the process of consultation with six post holders whose posts have been identified as at risk of a potential redundancy."
