Canongate Youth is a charity dedicated to providing high quality youth work services to support children and young people to flourish. As a charity, we are reliant on external funding to deliver our services. Over recent years the funding available has significantly reduced whilst the costs of running our services has increased.
Last year the running costs of Canongate Youth were over £150K higher than available funding. While mitigations were put in place to cover this shortfall, this financial year the overspend is expected to increase to over £200k. Without immediate action to reduce expenditure, the charity will ultimately face closure.
Canongate Youth had few options available to reduce expenditure and changing the staffing structure was required. This was discussed with staff, who were consulted on the proposed changes. The revised staffing structure reduces the recuring cost of delivering the charity’s services, whilst ensuring that all requirements from our funders continue to be delivered.
No charity wants to be in a position where difficult decisions like these are required. However, our priority is to ensure that Canongate Youth is sustainable, that the charity can continue its long-established support to children and young people, offering a welcoming space for them to be themselves, build skills, strengthen their wellbeing, and nurture their aspirations.
Premises
Canongate Youth is based in the South Bridge Resource Centre and this building is about to go through significant renovation. Whilst this work is happening Canongate Youth has moved temporarily into the Dumbiedykes Community Centre. This allows CY to continue providing services locally for young people during this time and we are grateful for the support from Edinburgh Council to organise this temporary accommodation.