Funding cuts threaten survival of Scotland’s oldest law centre

Castlemilk Law and Money Advice Centre, founded in 1979, has had its funding application for the next three years marked as ‘not recommended’ by Glasgow City Council ahead of a final vote on Thursday.

The decision has also hit organisations including the Legal Services Agency and Govan Law Centre as well as five Citizens Advice Bureaux.

Senior principal solicitor at Castlemilk, Angus McIntosh, told Scottish Legal News: “Castelmilk Law Centre is one of eight advice agencies facing closure in Glasgow due to council cuts. The law centre protects people against cuts in their benefits, evictions, employment problems and debt. 

“These services are needed more than ever at the moment. The council’s proposal virtually ends local advice services in the eastern part of Glasgow.

“Three hundred thousand of Glasgow’s most vulnerable citizens will no longer have these protections. These proposals must be reversed.”

Govan Law Centre, meanwhile, would see a one-third reduction. In his column for the Glasgow Evening Times, GLC principal Mike Dailly said: “Why would any local authority reduce the capacity of its free advice sector during the worst pandemic in our lifetime?

“Why would you hollow out the hull of your lifeboats in a time of crisis? Cut lifelines for the most vulnerable people in our communities? Make no mistake we are sailing into a brutal economic and social storm.”

He added: “I have seldom seen a proposal that is so reckless and feckless as wiping out your local advice sector during a pandemic and recession; so lacking in any strategic thinking, logic or compassion for the wellbeing of Glasgow’s citizens.”

The Legal Services Agency tweeted: “Glasgow City Council has proposed that LSA’s funding be reduced. If these cuts are implemented they could prevent people accessing the advice they need, at the time that they need it, and will cause hardship to the people who depend on our advice.”

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council told SLN: “Demand for grant support has been exceptional – with applications received for well over double the total value of the fund. Unfortunately, this was always going to mean disappointment for some organisations with applications that scored less highly during assessment.

“Decisions on citywide grants will be made at committee later this week – followed by a further round of local awards.”