Community / Dogs Against Drugs awarded government funding
LOCAL charity Dogs Against Drugs is to receive £30,000 of funding from assets seized from criminals, the Scottish Government announced today (Wednesday).
The funding comes at a time the charity is struggling to make ends meet which has already resulted in a redundancy and a reduction of service.
Dogs Against Drugs project manager Michael Coutts had previously said that due to underfunding by the Scottish Government “for more than a decade” dog cover had been reduced from 120 hours to 75 hours a week.
Speaking in response to the funding news, he said: “The Dogs Against Drugs committee are delighted by show of financial support from the Scottish Government and welcome the grant of £30,000 from them.
“We hope this is the start of things to come and we can now move forward in getting a long term financial commitment from them, to continue to help to keep the Shetland community safe for the future.”
Chairman of the Shetland community safety and resilience board Allison Duncan said it was “absolutely fantastic news”.
Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart said she cautiously welcomed the news but said a long-term solution was needed.
“This extra funding is welcome news,” she said. “It is, unfortunately, not the end of the financial problems that Dogs Against Drugs face and we need a long term solution.
“Had this funding come sooner the charity may not have been forced to reduce the hours it can dedicate to drug detection and education.
“The importance of the service Dogs Against Drugs provides to Police Scotland is well recognised. When Chief Constable Jo Farrell recently visited Shetland she is reported as stating the charity was, really impressive and valuable in tackling the movement of drugs into the isles.”
“While there are questions around why funding to the charity from the Shetland Drug and Alcohol Partnership remains static, it is also short-sighted of the Scottish Government to have kicked the can down the road in helping find a sustainable financial footing for the charity.”
Justice secretary Angela Constance said: “Dogs Against Drugs plays an important role in supporting Police Scotland’s drug detection work on Shetland and helping to raise awareness in local communities of the dangers of drugs.
“I am pleased that £30,000 from proceeds of crime will be directed to the charity this year.”
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