Leith-based community non-profit faces uncertain future as one of many charities with 12 weeks left of secure funding 

THE Pilmeny Development Project (PDP) has started a petition after its future has been left uncertain by potential Edinburgh Intergration Joint Board (EIJB) cuts to funding. 

The Leith-based organisation dedicate themselves to working with older and younger people in the area, helping to prevent social isolation and caring for the community’s vulnerable. 

The charity is one of many who have until June before funding is reconsidered by the EIJB. 

Despite the City of Edinburgh Council agreeing in their budget yesterday to spend £3.5m on community-based charities, the PDP is one of many smaller organisations left with no communication on whether this will be given to them. 

In November last year, the EIJB considered cutting £4.5m of grants to 64 organisations in the Scottish capital. 

By December, in response to considerable outcry from the city’s third sector, they extended funding until June this year. 

For the PDP, who helped over 3,000 people last year, life for the organisation after this point seems unclear. 

Though the council has committed £2.5m to third sector support from a Reform Reserve, and a further £1m income maximisation, charities must await further meetings before they can figure out if their future has been secured. 

The PDP called a meeting earlier this month to discuss taking community action to combat the threatened cuts. 

An in-person petition passed around on the day, on top of online signatures that have been collected since 31 January means that over 300 people have come out in support of the cause. 

Anne Munro, the manager of the PDP, said today: “We knew nothing of the EIJB cuts last year until the meeting on the first of November.  

“There was no communication. We have now been given a 12-week extension of funding until 1 June. 

“After confirmation of the budget yesterday, I have spoken with local councillors who have expressed concern that the £3.5m from the council may be focused mainly towards organisations which generate income for their clients, rather than smaller places like us. 

“We’re really thankful that money has been allocated but on the other hand, there hasn’t been clarity on what this could mean for individual organisations. 

“We haven’t heard a word, but we are expecting a meeting to form a working group with the EIJB and third sector companies. 

“If we don’t receive funding in 12 weeks, we will be forced to close down 12 to 15 areas in our project, and face redundancies. 

“The IJB has treated older people and our vulnerable really poorly – that’s why we started our petition.  

“I’ve been having sleepless nights over this. They need to hear the voices of the people who are going to be affected by this, and whose lives could be dramatically changed. 

“I know that as a country we face financial constraints at the moment, but there is a way to go about this that’s human. 

“Without us, people end up in care when they shouldn’t, they stay in hospitals for longer than they should, and they won’t receive the social care that we provide. 

“The worry and anger that has been caused has been really difficult. I am glad we have had so much support from local councillors.” 

The petition, titled Save Pilmeny Development Project, will be open until 28 February, after which the team hopes to call a meeting with councillors to discuss further steps.