Response to devastating cuts proposal

FOLLOWING reports that that the UK government is set to cut £30million from the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland, our Chief Executive SallyAnn Kelly made the following statement:

“If these proposals were to be implemented then the impact of a UK Government cut to lottery spending in Scotland on this scale would be devastating for thousands of people who rely on services provided by lottery grants.

“These are services which the public sector simply don’t have the capacity to provide. After eight years of surviving and delivering in some of the most difficult economic conditions in memory this could set charities back still further. A significant cut to lottery funding, coupled with increased demand from people affected by welfare cuts and unemployment would represent a perfect storm for many Scottish charities.

“Scotland’s charities are used to working with very tight finances but a cut of this size to the lifeline funding that the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland represents could deliver a hammer blow to many organisations currently delivering vital services in Scottish communities.”

You can read the Scottish Government’s response, which includes SallyAnn’s comment, here: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Opposition-to-devastating-funding-cuts-1f78.aspx