South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has met with Shirley-Anne Sommerville, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Ivan McKee, Minister for Public Finance, along with a cross-party group of MSPs, to discuss the funding challenges facing the Usual Place.
The meeting followed the local MSP’s request last week during First Minister’s Question Time for John Swinney to arrange for the Cabinet Secretary to meet him and a cross-party group of MSPs to discuss the future of the project in Dumfries, after it was revealed that it faced challenges securing funding to cover costs.
Colin Smyth, who is a long term supporter of the Usual Place, described the meeting as “hugely constructive” but has now urged Ministers to urgently work with Government agencies such as the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency (SOSE) as well as Dumfries and Galloway Council to bring forward a short term package of financial support to cover the projects immediate pressures and help them with a long term strategy to ensure the project is sustainable.
Colin Smyth said: “I welcome the speed at which Ministers moved to convene this cross-party meeting following my question to the First Minister last week.
“The discussion was hugely constructive and there was a real recognition from Ministers of the importance of the Usual Place to the young people who benefit from the life-changing opportunities provided by this amazing project.
“The fact the meeting was attended by MSPs from four different parties shows the united cross party approach we are taking to support the Usual Place and the importance we all place on its work.
“Ministers made it clear they wanted to help and said their officials would be holding discussions with the Usual Place and agencies such as the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency to discuss what action could be taken.
“Of course public finances are tight but I would like to see a short term financial package of support put in place to get the project through the coming months. We then need to see support to look at ways it can be sustainable in the long-term, as I appreciate this isn’t the first time it has faced financial challenges and it is unfair to staff and the young people at the Usual Place to have this discussion year after year.
“Given that the project has begun talks about redundancies, the clock is ticking and it is vital that the Scottish Government, it’s agencies and the council move at pace to help the Usual Place find a way forward.
“This is a transformative project and the futures of so many young people depend on it. I am absolutely determined that we do not let those young people down”.
The local MSP also recently wrote joint letters with other MSPs to the council and South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) seeking funding support for the Usual Place.
