Moray Council move to axe Area Forum funding 'making hard times harder'

MORAY Council budget cuts will make hard times harder for grassroots community groups, the chairman of Buckie Area Forum (BAF) has warned.

As part of measures designed to slice around £1.7 million from the local authority's budget for 2023-24, the full council meeting on Wednesday, March 1 – where the plans were agreed – made grim viewing for Moray's nine Area Forums when it was confirmed their annual £4000 grant was to be axed.

Part of the Community Planning Partnership, the forums were created as grassroots bodies designed to bring together representatives from local community organisations and local residents to tackle issues which have been identified through local consultation.

BAF chairman Gordon McDonald said that the cut would make it harder for the group, which has been the moving force behind initiatives such as the volunteer-run Buckie Community Hub, to help local communities during the cost of living crisis.

He continued: "The whole thing came out of the blue, it was a complete surprise and I don't think the full impact has settled in for our volunteers.

"In fact, the Area Forums are coming together to try and strengthen what we do in our communities.

"Over the years BAF has generated its own income to support a variety of projects but the grant from the council was vital when it came to paying for things like booking meeting rooms, paying for travel costs and to attend courses. If we have to spend money to do that, it means we're not spending it on projects to help our local communities.

"While we continue to be grateful for the in-kind support the council is continuing to provide it's disappointing that they have chosen to take a decision like this on Area Forum funding at this time.

"The last thing we need when we're doing things like the Hub to help with the cost of living crisis is for Moray Council to decide to withdraw Area Forum funding. It's making the hard times harder.

"I think there is a lack of recognition or regard on the part of the council as to what Area Forums are actually doing on the ground at the grassroots. In the light of the funding cut I hope the council will be asking the other public sector bodies which work with the Community Planning Partnership if they can help out."

The Buckie Community Hub on East Church Street opened its doors last November with the aim of supporting local people hit hard by the cost of living crisis. As well as offering a warm, safe place for people struggling to heat their homes to go, the volunteer-run hub has also been offering an expanding range of services, such as signposting to partner agencies, helping with benefits issues and hosting a range of drop-in advice sessions from outside partners.

Buckie Area Forum covers Buckie, Cullen, Deskford, Findochty, Portknockie, Portgordon and surrounding areas.

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