A proposed cut to funding at a lifeline Dumbarton charity has been halved after it was warned the move could jeopardise their future.
Councillors also agreed to support grant applications for further cash from avenues including the Dumbarton Common Good Fund, saying that services at Ben View will continue to be fully funded. “However it is recognised that the removal of £62,000 from Ben View’s budget could put the charity into immediate hardship, and they may not be able to maintain the vital social care elements that they do on behalf of the HSCP.
“Even with the proposed £31,000 worth of reduction they will still be given funding to provide the same level of services over the next two years, while they explore other funding opportunities.” “Where is the duty of care to the people who rely on these services? We all have a responsibility to ensure that basic care needs can continue to be available.
“We could lose our youth programme which engages more than 80 young people every week. We could lose our befriending service which contacts isolated older people, the loss of the children’s fund. Which has paid out more than £140,000 in clothing grants to local families who have financial or wellbeing challenges.