A Fife charity is facing a race against time to secure new funding or face cutting its vital support services for hundreds of families in need.
Fife Gingerbread, which supports lone parents and disadvantaged families, says it is about to be hit by a “perfect storm” as revenue streams are set to end or be cut.
The organisation, which supported 739 families across the region in 2018, has so far been unable to secure additional money.
It may soon be forced to operate at a third of its current state, with a loss of 27 jobs.
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As a result, it says it will be not be able to support 253 of the 348 families it is working with, leaving 72 children at high risk of social work involvement.
Urging Fife Council to step in, charity boss Rhona Cunningham said: “Knowing we may be unable to continue supporting so many families is devastating, particularly as we know there are 72 children within those families that will possibly require social work intervention.
“If even 10 of those children were to end up in residential care it would cost the local authority a staggering £1.6 million per year, so the opportunity is there for Fife Council to fund our work now and save money in the long run.”
Thousands of children face poverty in out-of-work households
However, Fife Council co-leader David Ross said: “Unfortunately, the realities of the council’s financial position mean it isn’t possible for the council to step in and make up for the loss of external funding for Gingerbread or other voluntary organisations in a similar situation.
“I know officers are working with Fife Gingerbread to see what might be possible in order to protect what we all recognise are valuable services.”
And fellow co-leader David Alexander added: “When groups receive one-off funds from other organisations they can no longer expect the council to fill the gap.
“Some groups, if possible, may need to utilise their own reserves until additional grants come along.”
