Situation is "dire" says CEO
A charity which has seen its income drop by 34% says life it is fighting to survive.
Cerebral Palsy Scotland (CPS) has seen income drop and outgoing increase dramatically.
Stephanie Fraser, CEO of CPS, said the situation was “dire” now. Funding has become so hard and due to the cost of living, electricity and gas have gone up, just standing still and putting the lights on has become increasingly more expensive.
She added: “Trusts and foundations are inundated with applications and some charities have had to close. The situation is that organisations are struggling to survive because of cash rather than because of the impact they have.
"We get 89% of our income every year from our own fundraising efforts. We've always lived within our means, but we don't have much reserve. We’re not an old, large organisation that can weather a few bad years."
Formed in 1995 previously going by the name Bobath, CPS was set up by a group of frustrated parents who had to travel to London to access help for their children with cerebral palsy.
The charity has over time extended its reach as demand has soarded offering a range of support services and helping people overcome barriers and build skills while gaining both knowledge and confidence.
She added: "Our aim as a charity is to say yes to anybody who rings us up. We include mental health and well-being in our offer of support. Whether it's groups, peers or one-to-one, there is a range of services that we offer.”
The charity recently received funding from law firm Gordon and Slater - which will be used to continue the delivery of their many vital services.
Derek Couper, head of clinical negligence in Scotland for Slater and Gordon, said: “Cerebral Palsy Scotland plays an outstanding role in helping people across the country affected by the condition, and without them, tailored support would be very hard to come by.
Their research shows the struggle that people experience in finding the resources and
understanding they need to navigate their lives – which makes the work of this charity absolutely invaluable.
“We are very pleased to partner with Cerebral Palsy Scotland and to help sustain its support service, which plays such a vital role in the lives of so many individuals and families. We look forward to working with Stephanie and her team going forward to maximise support for people across the country living with this condition.”
