A LAST-DITCH appeal to the Scottish Government for £160,000 to save Argyll Training, a 25-year-old charity supporting young people into work, has failed, resulting in 16 reduncancies, writes Sandy Neil.
With cross-party agreement, Argyll and Bute Council committed £80,000 to sustain the ‘vital service’ until employability fund changes kick in next September, and leader Dick Walsh appealed to ministers John Swinney and Jamie Hepburn to find the extra two thirds of the cost.
But following a recent meeting, Argyll Training’s now former managing director Fraser McCowan confirmed: ‘Sadly the government were unable to assist. They said they were unable to under European rules and if they supported us other organisations would come to them.’