Jobs lost with sudden closure of 40-year-old Scottish charity – TFN

Income had been halved

Twenty jobs have been lost with the sudden closure of a 40-year-old Scottish charity.

Right Track Scotland supported mostly young people through outdoor activities, training, sports and recreation.

Managers however said the Glasgow-based charity faced “funding disruption” and called in the liquidator.

In its latest accounts for 2023, its income was down by £284,800 to £538,270 against the previous year.

Right Track had Projects in Glasgow and Lanarkshire. It worked with young people mostly aged 15-19 years and long-term economically inactive adults.

Annually it worked with over 450 people, many of whom feel they have little to offer employers due to a lack of qualifications and work experience, poor self-confidence or self-esteem.

A statement from the board read: “Since our launch in 1983, Right Track has supported young people with the most challenging of difficulties to overcome in order that they can participate positively in employment, training or further education.

“Operating in Central Scotland’s most socially and economically deprived areas our ambition has always been to try to broaden horizons, raise aspiration and arm the young people we support with some tools to help them break what might otherwise be a perpetual cycle of disadvantage, depravation and hopelessness.”

The directors said they were proud of every participant took part in its programmes to make a difference in their life as well as to contribute positively to society.

They added: “Our gratitude goes to all of the staff, supporters, donors, volunteers, employers large and small, and our landlords who have stood behind our ambition, our ethos and our work for four decades.

“Too many to name, but each and every one should be celebrated for the incredible contribution they have made.

“Our anxiety, frustration, and our warning on what lies ahead must be directed to those who represent our society through local, national and UK government:  the need we have fulfilled over the last 40 years is not going away – if anything it will worsen.”

The board continued: “We have worked with over 27,000 young people aged 14-18 years, all of whom had ‘additional support needs’.

“Funding disruption has meant the shrinking of services and geographical coverage in recent years (previously Edinburgh and Glasgow, most recently Glasgow only).

“Our staffing has had to cut in recent years as we sought to manage uncertainty of contract award and payment.

“At time off our closure 20 staff have been made redundant.”