Religious charity faces closure over cash crisis

Published on Saturday 20 December 2008 18:37

THE charity that worked to promote religious tolerance in the aftermath of the Glasgow terrorist attacks is on the verge of closure because of a lack of Scottish Government funding.

Staff working for the Scottish Inter-Faith Council have been served with redundancy notices and have been warned that the organisation could close within weeks unless more money is secured.

Unless the Government takes action, the 150,000 savings the SIFC held in reserve will have been spent by the end of next month, leaving the charity, which encourages more understanding between faiths, with no option other than to close its doors.

Alan Dixon, the council's convener, said a funding application for 200,000 had been turned down in the summer and another plea for cash was rejected in the autumn.

The organisation, which deals with all religious leaders in Scotland including those from the Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Bahai faiths, also attempts to build bridges following local hate crimes. It is now in talks with the Scottish Government to see if it can secure its future. "We will have to cease trading," said Dixon. "From our perspective it will be disastrous if they don't come up with the cash."

Dixon said the charity works with the faith communities to try and get them to understand each other's perspective so that they can "be part of a truly welcoming Scotland".

The SIFC's plight is the latest in a series of developments that has led to the SNP Government being accused of neglecting the problem of religious intolerance in Scotland.

Last week Scotland on Sunday revealed that Nil By Mouth, the charity that has led the fight against bigotry in Scotland, is also fighting for survival as a result of a shortage of Government cash.

Fergus Ewing, the Community Safety Minister, said: "Officials are in regular discussions with the Scottish Inter Faith Council about their funding, and these will be concluded in early January."