Campaigners will be at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday to press home the message that the Scottish Government’s cuts of funding for employment programmes in Edinburgh will hurt people who most need help at this time of economic difficulties.
This takes place on the day that the motion on this topic from Sarah Boyack MSP will be debated at lunchtime in the Scottish Parliament – Wednesday 9 March.
At a briefing for MSPs before the debate, trainees from Four Square’s Connected programme will launch the short video clip which they have made for the campaign. Representatives of other projects and of UNISON will also be there to speak about the impact of these cuts.
It is organised by the campaign to Save Edinburgh’s Jobless Services which will hand over a 500 name petition to Scottish ministers that day.
“Our campaign is definitely having an impact” says Matthew Crighton of UNISON, speaking for the campaign.
“This is not the first time it has been noticed in Parliament – in the budget debate on 9 February John Swinney, Finance Minister, said that ‘the Government will do what it can in the circumstances’.
“But so far these cuts are still in place. We are hoping that the wide range of support which we have had for our petition and from Edinburgh MSPs will help persuade the government to change its mind”.
Messages from the public posted by signatories of the petition include:
“We need to be investing more in these services, not cutting them”
“Please help the jobless of Edinburgh by saving this funding. It is essential”
“Reducing this service will mean another blow to the young people of Edinburgh…”
“Save the jobs that save jobs!”
“Targeting unemployment programmes does not make sense in the current climate”
“As if the historic unemployment problem wasn’t big enough on Muirhouse…”
“Having been involved in this field for over 20 years, I fail to see how cutting funds will help the already increasing unemployment figures”
“Why target the less privileged again?”
“The reality of Edinburgh as a modern city of social justice that supports all its communities is at stake due to these budget proposals”
“At this stage in the economic cycle it would be a travesty to undo the good work that services that help the jobless do”
“This is an investment in our future that should be maintained and promoted”
“Be fair to people and give people a chance and a foot up to success. Funding here prevents rehabilitation later. Be nice”
Check out the website for full details http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/