Community groups in Barrhead have warned of the ‘devastating’ prospect of cuts to a fund after the Scottish Government cast huge uncertainty on its future next year.
The Investing in Communities Fund, a £27 million initiative, is aimed at alleviating poverty and supporting community-led regeneration through various projects, services, and activities.
Several areas in Scotland, including Barrhead, have benefited from this fund, which is part of the government's Empowering Communities Programme.
The fund, administered by Barrhead Housing Association under its Brighter Futures programme, has supported several local organisations.
The future of this fund, however, was cast into uncertainty when the Scottish Government informed Barrhead Housing Association in July that funding would be reviewed on a monthly basis.
The government later confirmed that funding would be maintained this year, but with a five per cent cut.
Among the organisations relying on this fund is the Use it Or Lose It exercise and dance class, which is affectionately known as ‘The Monday Morning Girls’.
This class, held every Monday morning at Barrhead’s Auchenback Resource Centre, involves women of all ages and abilities.
It has become an essential social and mental health support for the community.
Retired supermarket worker, Carol Hainey, 77, said: “We would be absolutely devastated if the funding was cut for the Monday Morning Girls.
"It’s become about far more than an exercise class, it’s something we look forward to every week, all of us are really close and we end the class each week by going for teas and coffees and a chit-chat."
Morag Easdon, a retired civil servant, also a regular at the Monday Morning Girls, added: “If this class wasn’t on, many people in Barrhead would end up stuck in the house, especially over winter."
Stephanie Elliot, who runs the Use It or Lose It class, as well as another in Dunterlie and a separate chair-based class for Barrhead Housing’s sheltered housing tenants, said the funding cuts would have a ‘serious impact’ on community wellbeing.
She said: “We are devastated to hear the news of the potential cut to our funding.
"We engage some of the most vulnerable people within our society and support them to improve their health and wellbeing through adapted physical activity.
"Our groups give citizens direct access to free, impartial health and wellbeing advice from specialists in exercise and chronic disease and provide safe spaces for expression and self-development."
Barrhead Housing Association, a central figure in the Brighter Futures programme, also expressed concern over the potential funding cuts.
READ MORE: Glasgow pupils help plant Pollok's first community orchard
Chief executive Lorna Wilson said: "Everyone is aware of the funding pressures being experienced by government.
"However, the importance of the fantastic work being done by community groups in Scotland cannot be underestimated.
''They are making a massive difference to the quality of the lives of so many people, and Barrhead Housing is absolutely determined to do all we can to continue providing the support they need and deserve.''
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has also expressed support for the plea to protect this funding.
Sally Thomas, SFHA chief executive, said: “Housing associations exist to provide warm, secure and affordable homes for their tenants.
"And beyond this, they are also central to tackling poverty and creating thriving communities, something demonstrated brilliantly through Barrhead Housing Association’s Brighter Futures programme.
“We’d urge Scottish Government to not turn away from its track record of investing in communities and use the forthcoming Scottish Budget to commit to fully funding the Investing in Communities Fund.
"Guaranteeing its long-term future would be a major contribution to helping our communities flourish.”
The community's concerns remain as the Scottish Budget is expected to be announced on December 4.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government values community groups in Barrhead, which is why it has supported Barrhead Housing Association with more than £82,000 this financial year. Funding for regeneration projects will be allocated in due course.”
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here