Debts Crisis Threatens To Shut Vital Service To Young And Old

Thousands of children and retired people face losing youth clubs, support groups and other community services because of a cash crisis at a council-funded organisation. The Pilmeny Development Project warned today that growing debts will force it to close all 14 community initiatives unless it is thrown a cash lifeline by the city council.

Summer holiday activities for schoolchildren, extra support for families of hyperactive children and exercise classes for older people are among the services it provides. Project managers said that without extra funding they will have to start winding down all their services in two months.

The project was established in 1979 and runs initiatives across north and east Edinburgh, ranging from summer play schemes to advice for old people on their benefits.

One mother, Babs Laycock, 50, told today how she has seen all of her five children develop social skills and overcome shyness by attending special after-school clubs set up by the project to help children with additional needs.

She said: “My youngest, Lynda, is shy. The club brings her out of herself. She would happily sit in a corner and watch other people do stuff. But they get her involved and she’s a completely different girl when she leaves there. Kerryann, who is now 27, used to run away when there was any sense of trouble. They helped her by getting her to do stuff for other people. Rather than running away she would share out juice and help to look after the younger ones.”

Ms Laycock used to live in Leith, but moved to Wester Hailes about three years ago. Lynda, ten, still attends Lorne Primary School and was referred to Pilmeny by teachers to help her develop social skills. Her mother added: “I think the services Pilmeny provide are very important. It gives the kids something to do – they can’t play in the streets, if they join a gym or sports club it costs a fortune. It costs just 50 pence for Lynda to go to the after-school club on a Tuesday or a Friday, and she gets a drink and a biscuit.”

The project warned today it was facing a £9000 funding black hole by April which it expects to rise to £17,000 in just over a year’s time. The group receives £80,000 a year from the city council and raises another £100,000 itself. However, it has been hit by rising pensions costs for its small staff of two full-time community workers and two part-time administrators.

Anne Munro, one of the community workers at the project, said: “I think if we had to close it would have a pretty bad impact on the area. We do get people saying, ‘I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t there’. It’s life changing for some of them. We’re worried that if we’re not there the people with the least voice in our communities will not be heard at all.”

The project made a special plea to councillors through a deputation at yesterday’s executive meeting at City Chambers. Council leader Ewan Aitken has ordered officials to produce a report on the project’s financial troubles to see whether the council can provide further help. He said: “A report on grant funding will go before the executive on March 13. I would also like a report on this specific issue so we can discuss it further.”

Initiatives run by the Pilmeny Development Project which face the threat of closure:

• Community Resource Centre where 340 groups, including alcohol and mental health support groups.
• Meeting space and access to computers for individuals and groups at the project’s main offices in Buchanan Street.
• Pilmeny Youth Centre for children between the ages of seven and 16.
• Summer holiday projects for young people, including Play 4 It and Go 4 It sporting events.
• Special after-school classes and one-to-one sessions for children with additional needs, including attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Help and advice to 120 housebound and elderly people, and their carers.
• Weekly drop-in centres for elderly people, including tea dances.
• Help and support to 23 groups and organisations that offer help to older people.
• Two forums attended by more than 200 elderly people, giving them a say in how council and police services are run.
• The Ageing Well Project, which keeps about 80 pensioners healthy by running exercise and walking classes.
• Women’s health and wellbeing class, which is attended by 24 women aged between 25 and 70.
• Advice and help to 600 people, pointing them in the direction of support services.