A crucial support service for Fife teenagers with mental health problems is expected to close after its funding was cut by the council.
Pupils, teachers and staff have launched a campaign to try to prevent the demise of the Penumbra Youth Project as plans to remove 100% of the service’s budget came to light.
The project offers one day a week to all 19 high schools in Fife, providing support around anxiety and stress and acting as an early intervention service for young people with emerging mental health problems.
But The Courier understands the vital lifeline for many will be removed at the end of March, with some of the organisation’s eight staff members already working their 90-day notice period.
Amber Higgins, project manager, said she was left “absolutely devastated” when a letter outlining the cut arrived, and stressed the decision was made without warning or consultation with the service or local schools.
“We provide specialist support to every high school in Fife and I worry what will happen when that help is no longer there for pupils,” she added.
“Between last August and December we provided one-to-one support to nearly 500 pupils.”
Hopes are high that some of the staff may be redeployed elsewhere in the organisation but Nigel Henderson, Penumbra chief executive, has vowed to challenge the council’s plans.
“We have been providing this service for over 12 years and only last year we redesigned the service at the request of Fife Council to ensure a more targeted approach to mental health and well-being in schools,” he said.
“We believe this is an extremely short-sighted move and we will be fighting hard to save the service from closure.”
Kirkcaldy MSP David Torrance said the cut will have a “devastating” impact on many people across Fife and called on the council and NHS Fife to divert some of the cash received from the Scottish Government for health and social care to support the project.
“Early intervention and high quality personalised services play an important part in reaching out to young people and helping them on the road to recovery,” he added.
Carrie Lindsay, head of education and children’s services for early years and early primary, confirmed that Penumbra have been informed that this funding stream no longer exists.
“All funding within the council has been subject to consideration as part of successive budget reductions. This is the implementation of a budget saving from 2015/16,” she said.
“Council services and NHS Fife will continue to work with children and young people to support their wellbeing needs.”
A petition has been set up asking Fife Council leader David Ross to reverse the decision.