A Moray councillor has urged the local authority to put the needs of the region’s most vulnerable residents first, following a decision to pull funding from a mental health haven.
The Horizons Resource Centre, which is run by the Moray Anchor Project in Elgin, will close next year.
The decision – announced earlier this week – has left the dozens of people who use the service “concerned” by the lack of information on what the future holds for them.
Elgin City North representative, Patsy Gowans, last night said the council needed to ensure they are kept informed of developments as an alternative support service is arranged.
Mrs Gowans said: “The concerns of the people who use this service must be prioritised here, and that needs to be kept in mind regardless of who the council awards the contract to.
“These are vulnerable people, and we need to remain in contact with them over the following months to make sure they know how things are going.”
Mrs Gowans said it was also crucial that the eight staff members who face unemployment are kept updated.
The Moray Anchor project was established to offer a safe refuge for vulnerable adults more than 20 years ago and it currently has more than 80 users.
But, earlier this week, it emerged the council will not be renewing its contract with the charity when it comes up for renewal in March.
The project encourages adults with mental illnesses back into work by running drop-in sessions to boost their confidence, and operates a woodwork and arts training course in Elgin.
Horizons regulars criticised the decision to axe the “tried and tested” service, and management say they have been left “shocked and upset” by the move.
Moray Council says funding for mental health services is not being cut – but is being allocated differently.
A spokesman for the authority said that modernising provision would lead to improvements – and vowed to support affected
individuals through the coming months of uncertainty.
Mrs Gowans added: “Any change to a service like this can be worrying to people, but sometimes change can be good.
“The people who use this service should be able to influence the type of replacement they receive.”
