Arts groups and charities in turmoil over grants

DOZENS of organisations ranging from national arts bodies to small community projects face axeing services following a freeze – or cut – in council grants.

Scores of organisations have applied to the council for an increase in their funding, to cover rising staff costs and fuel bills.

But, in the majority of cases, the groups face coping with the same amount of cash – some for the fourth year running.

The city council today also revealed that 13 organisations are set to actually lose funding, including Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera, the Gorgie/Dalry Partnership and some charities.

Others are likely to receive cash for just six months, subject to a review. The council will hand out a total of £21 million in grant aid this year, with more than 200 groups winning over £10,000.

The cutbacks amount to £787,000. However, the opposition Labour group said the reduction in real terms is £2.3m once separate efficiency savings and the lack of an inflationary rise is taken into account.

The freeze will affect a number of local community groups, such as the Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre and the North Edinburgh Childcare Centre, support groups including the Edinburgh Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, charities such as Handicabs and Lothian Shopmobility, and arts bodies and festivals including the Traverse theatre and the International Book Festival.

Mark Ballard, from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, said: "Voluntary organisations in Edinburgh face an uncertain future. At best, many of them will see standstill funding – which is a cut in real terms. As things like staff costs and fuel bills go up, a funding freeze will inevitably mean a loss of services.

"For organisations running on a shoestring this could be the last straw. This will mean the end of very important services which will be badly missed."

One organisation which applied for more funding was The Eric Liddell Centre on Morningside Road, which wanted a three per cent rise. But it is set to receive around £100,000 for the third year running.

Chief executive Bob Rendall said last year's funding freeze prevented an increase in staff wages. "We are working in an extremely tough environment, and a (freeze] makes it harder," he said.

The Gorgie/Dalry Partnership, which runs community groups and events, is set to lose over £15,000 from its £20,000 grant.

Project manager Elaine Brand said: "We can't survive on that. We have staff and rent costs, so it would be impossible.

Labour group leader Ewan Aitken said many of the organisations did not know about the impending cuts until last week.

"The Liberal Democrat manifesto said 'we want you to be kept properly informed and to have real opportunity to participate in decision-making'," he said.

"They have fallen at the first hurdle and this is now much more than loss of cash – it's also a complete loss of trust."

But city leader Jenny Dawe insisted discussions had taken place with organisations.

"We spent hours agonising over this," she said. "We have made the best of a difficult financial position, and have managed to find money for the vast majority of organisations that wanted it."

Drastic steps as ballet and opera feel the pinch
OPERA and ballet pro-grammes in the Capital face being scaled back under council plans to axe £83,000 in funding.

The ruling Lib Dem/SNP administration is set to scrap payments to Glasgow-based Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet in 2008/09.

It is understood that both groups only discovered the news last week.

Both bodies are regular users of the Capital's Festival Theatre, and a downturn in activity could seriously impact on the venue.

A spokeswoman for Scottish Opera said the most likely casualty would be its free Opera Unwrapped programme, a behind-the-scenes event to introduce opera to those who have never tried it before.

Cindy Sughrue, executive producer with Scottish Ballet, added: "Scottish Ballet has consistently presented world-class performance and education programmes in Edinburgh and any reduction in funding will have an impact on the amount of activity we can provide in the city."