Cash cuts threaten Aberdeen mental health help centres

A CHARITY-RUN day centre for people with mental health problems in Aberdeen could face closure after councillors slashed its funding.

Two charities run separate day centres for adults with mental health problems in the city but the local authority wants to continue providing funding for only one facility.

The move last night cast doubt over the future of either the Alford Centre, run by Mental Health Aberdeen, or a similar facility managed by Pillar Aberdeen.

Councillors agreed to cut £150,000 of funding for mental health day services in December, but the full implications of the decision were not known until last night.

The Press and Journal understands councillors will next week be asked to put the service out to tender, with only one of the charities likely to be awarded the contract.

The two groups could put in a joint bid to run a centre together, as it is believed the council had hoped, but equally a separate organisation could come in and be awarded the contract.

MHA chief executive Astrid Whyte confirmed last night that the Alford Centre, in Alford Place, would have to close if it did not win the tender. She said: “Day support provision for people with mental ill-health has been provided over the years mainly by two organisations – MHA in the Alford Centre and Pillar Aberdeen in Pillar, Back Wynd. Both organisations have worked collaboratively over many years and have therefore provided a stable and supportive environment for service users.”

She added that council officials had briefed the two organisations last month, saying their combined budget of £450,000 was to be cut by a third.

“In effect this means that only one service is likely to be provided by one organisation, with the consequent loss of choice for service users.”

Pillar Aberdeen could not be contacted last night.

Opposition Tory group secretary Alan Donnelly yesterday met MHA staff to discuss its concerns. He said: “I am writing to our social work director outlining my support for MHA. I really feel they provide a good service.”

Council finance convener Kevin Stewart said: “We need to ensure the services we are providing are not duplicated to get exactly what’s needed for the people of Aberdeen.”