Scottish LGBT organisation faces uncertain future

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

Staff at the Dumfries and Galloway Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender organisation may be facing redundancies after council bosses cut back on their funding.

The reduction comes after the Scottish government decided to end ring-fencing on minority funding awards which means that the council doesn’t have to spend the money.

The group received less than half of the money allocated to them last year.

Services manager Grace Cardozo told the Dumfries and Galloway Standard:

“I have dramatic funding decisions to make to meet the demand for the level of service.

“One post has already been re-graded and another post has been discontinued.

“We have also cut our session hours.

“There will have to be a good deal of rationalisation to find savings in the region of £40,000.

“What we do is fairly unique in Dumfries and Galloway and is usually only on offer in big cities.”

Melinda Dolan, council equality officer for Dumfries and Galloway Council said: “The funding situation for LGBT Youth Scotland for 2009/10 is critical and as a result of a gap between current income and secured monies for the coming year, redundancies and a contraction of services being offered in Dumfries and Galloway is likely.

“This is unfortunate as the work here has been nationally recognised and is seen as an example of good practice which is being copied elsewhere.”

The Dumfries and Galloway Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender organisation provides support for gay and transgendered people by holding social events, counselling services and promotes sexual health.

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