Cambuslang care group faces bleak future despite sterling work

CAMBUSLANG Community Carers are facing a bleak future despite the commitment shown throughout the recent spell of freezing weather.

The group are struggling to secure funding from South Lanarkshire Council, who are cutting costs as their budget is slashed.

Throughout the winter, carers from the group have worked tirelessly to ensure appointments are kept and people who rely on the service are not left helpless.

Group manager Suzanne Donnachie praised the council for the support they have given the group for the past 15 years, saying she understood the financial situation they were facing.

But she also said without new funding, the vital service could go to the wall, leaving up 100 people without a carer and 26 people out of work.

Suzanne said: “The service [did] very well throughout the bad weather. Our guys have hardly missed a client and have provided some quality service throughout.

“The council have been fantastic but they are reaching the limits of the support they can give us.

“We only employ local people. If we were not here between 80 and 100 clients would not receive the service. These are local people who are now facing some real hardships.”

Referring to an office-sharing arrangement the carers have in place with a back-to-work support scheme, she added: “Routes to Work South have been really accommodating with their offices and we’ve made as many cuts as we can, but we are limited because we are a small charity and we do not overspend.”

The organisation has been operational since 1990 and are currently providing care/support services for individuals aged six to 105-year-old, enabling them to lead full and independent lives within their community. They work with a variety of clients, including people with learning difficulties, physical disabilities, and people with a life-limiting illness.

Suzanne is due to meet with Social Work officials in the new year. The council provide around 89 per cent of the group’s funding, with the rest coming from charitable donations from groups like Corus.

Suzanne said: “That [89 per cent] figure makes us really vulnerable. I really don’t want to criticise the council because we have had support from officers and elected members, we know how difficult it is for them at the moment.” A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said: “The council has supported this organisation for the past 15 years.

“Senior Social Work officials are in the process of having a series of meetings with this group to discuss various operating and financial matters which we hope to resolve with this organisation. Regardless of the outcome of these discussions, vulnerable service-users will continue to receive support.”