YouthLink Scotland calls on the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board to reconsider the decision to cut funding to third-sector organisations supporting young people and vulnerable groups. and urges local and national government across the country to collaborate with third-sector partners to find sustainable solutions that protect these vital services.
YouthLink Scotland, the national agency for youth work, is deeply concerned by the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board’s (EIJB) decision to cut funding to third-sector organisations supporting young people and vulnerable groups. It is of specific note that there appears to have been little consultation around the process and that some cuts are happening in-year. YouthLink recently gave evidence to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee of the Scottish Parliament around the third sector funding principles as part of pre-budget scrutiny, and although we are not privy to all the information in this case, it does appear that it follows a troubling trend of late decision-making.
While we acknowledge the financial strain across the public sector, it is essential that young people remain a priority. Youth work services have been crucial to helping young people recover and thrive, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic, which has had a well-documented impact on their mental health, education, and future prospects. These services are essential, not expendable, as they offer support that reduces the need for more intensive and costly interventions later on.
These services are invaluable in preventing issues before they escalate, addressing young people’s needs early on, and helping them build resilience. Removing this support risks shifting these young people into more complex, high-cost support needs in the future—making this the opposite of a cost-saving move, despite how it may appear on paper.
At a time when young people’s needs are so great, cutting these essential supports only leaves them more vulnerable. It is vital that elected members honour their responsibility to young people, recognising that their futures depend on the safe spaces, essential support, and opportunities youth work services provide.
The organisations impacted by these cuts have delivered life-changing support for thousands of young people in Edinburgh. Losing these grants not only threatens these critical services but also will leave young people without key services they need and diminishes the prospect of charities securing additional funding to match the investment from public funding.
YouthLink Scotland calls on the EIJB to reconsider this decision and urges local and national government across the country to collaborate with third-sector partners to find sustainable solutions that protect these vital services. Investing in youth work is not just about immediate support; it is a strategic choice for a healthier, more resilient future for young people and communities alike.