A charity chief is calling for more government cash to help tackle problems faced in the oil downturn.
New ACVO director Kenneth Simpson believes local charities can help those affected by the oil crisis – providing things like counselling, foodbanks and voluntary work – but more funds need to come from the Scottish Government.
Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations is the group which represents voluntary, charity and social enterprise organisations in the city.
It is one of 32 “voluntary interfaces” throughout Scotland who are working for the third sector.
Mr Simpson said: “ACVO’s role is ensuring these charities can get proper funding to ensure they can make an impact and help people who are [currently] in need and distress.
“We now unfortunately see that situation getting worse over the next year or so.”
He said ACVO ranked 14th out of the 32 council’s when it came to government funding.
In the current financial year, it has received £232,800. And Mr Simpson added he felt Aberdeen’s mid-table ranking was due to the perception the city was awash with oil money.
But, he argued that more cash is now required to support charities who have less money from oil companies and to help oil industry workers in need.
Mr Simpson said: “Aberdeen has been very generous to the charity sector over the years.
“The oil industry has been very generous and thes same people might be the ones that are needing the support of charities
“If people have become unemployed and lost their jobs, volunteering is a way that help and improves people’s mental well-being and help them back into employment.”
A Scottish government spokesman said its 2016/17 draft budget included £24.5million for the third sector – which ACVO could draw from.
The spokesman said: “We are currently evaluating the 32 third sector interfaces to check the network and Voluntary Action Scotland’s effectiveness, and to explore how we support the third sector at a local level in the future.
“Scottish government ministers look forward to hearing the recommendations from the evaluation in due course.”