A TEENAGER has been left “devastated” after a support service suddenly closed when 70% of its funding was pulled.
Bishopbriggs-based East Dunbartonshire Initiative for Creative Therapy (EDICT) provided creative and arts-based therapies for people affected by mental health issues, living with autism spectrum disorders and/or considered to be an older person.
John Kilpatrick’s son Calum, 19, is diagnosed with autism and has struggled with interactions and general anxiety.
He started going to EDICT around 11 years ago with him attending twice a week for the last eight years.
John, 52, explained: “He’s got a group of friends there that have developed. It was a designated safe space.
“Calum does suffer severely from stress and anxiety, but we know the one thing that isn’t going to stress him out is EDICT.”
EDICT was instructed to participate in a service review for Mental Health & Addiction Services in East Dunbartonshire in December 2022. They participated in the process and were called to a meeting with senior East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) representatives on August 29, 2024, where they were verbally advised that all of the service’s HSCP funding – totaling £159,000 – would be withdrawn. The funding accounted for 70% of the charity’s yearly income.
Cllr Calum Smith said the “difficult decision” was made due to a budget gap of more than £13 million.
John, who lives in Kirkintilloch, has called the decision “disgusting”.
He said: “I’m very angry. The kids, the adults, they rely on this for social interaction.
“For East Dunbartonshire Council to completely obliterate this routine that people have had for many years is just disgusting.
“Calum is devastated.”
Calum attended EDICT for the last time on Thursday, September 5 with John saying he is now struggling to get out of bed some days.
He is concerned about the pressure that could now be put on other services.
He said: “It’s been running for 27 years and currently there’s about 130 people using the service on a weekly basis, so all those people are relying on it for their routine and for the rug to be pulled from underneath them has a major impact.
“It’s just going to be a tsunami of kids and adults needing more assistance.”
EDICT’s Trustees met on August 30 and explored options to continue but said losing 70% of their income while also having to find new premises after their landlord had given notice to quit meant “there were no possible outcome which did not lead to the charity becoming insolvent”.
It is understood they made the decision to close “sooner rather than later” so they could use the remaining funds to cover costs such as bills and redundancies, with the final HSCP payment expected on December 31.
Cllr Calum Smith, chair of East Dunbartonshire HSCP Board, says they are dealing with a “challenging financial situation” with a budget gap of £13.3249m.
He said: “Deciding on what savings should be made is not an easy task, and our Board made the difficult decision at its meeting on Thursday, August 29 to cease some funding to local groups and organisations.
“This came after a robust review into local needs and services.
“We understand any change or removal of service is unsettling.
“We are committed to continuing to work closely with all affected groups to mitigate the impact of the withdrawal of funding, as far as is possible.
“The HSCP Board’s priority is to protect our frontline services in making these budget savings to ensure the continued delivery of essential support for residents across East Dunbartonshire.”
### Impact on the Community
The closure of EDICT has had a significant impact on the community it served. With 130 people relying on the services provided by the organization on a weekly basis, the sudden withdrawal of funding has left many individuals without the support they desperately need. John Kilpatrick’s son Calum is just one example of the devastation caused by the closure, as he now struggles to cope with his anxiety and stress without the safe space and routine that EDICT provided.
### Financial Challenges Faced
The decision to close EDICT was ultimately driven by financial challenges faced by the organization. Losing 70% of their income due to the withdrawal of HSCP funding, coupled with the need to find new premises after their landlord issued notice to quit, left EDICT with no viable options to continue operating. The trustees made the difficult decision to close the charity to use the remaining funds to cover essential costs such as bills and redundancies.
### Looking Towards the Future
Moving forward, the closure of EDICT highlights the importance of adequate funding and support for mental health and creative therapy services in the community. The impact of funding cuts on vulnerable populations, such as individuals living with autism spectrum disorders, cannot be understated. It is crucial for local authorities and organizations to work together to ensure that essential services like EDICT are able to continue providing much-needed support to those in need.