Right Track Scotland Limited closed its doors after 41 years last month.
Since its launch in 1983, Right Track has supported young people, aged 12-18, with the most challenging of difficulties to overcome in order that they can participate positively in employment, training of further education.
The organisation has faced a range of challenges over the last few years, including:
- Loss of the Employability Fund to be replaced by local authority commissioning of employability services
- A delay in the introduction and commissioning of these new local authority employability programmes
- Delays in contracting for 24/25 due to delays in the Scottish Government its budgets with local authorities
- Three quarterly in arrears payments from local authority contracts resulting in severe cash flow problems
- Delays in the roll-out of the Shared Prosperity Fund
- Local Authorities deciding to deliver in-house services rather than use the existing training provider infrastructure.
A press release issued by the Board of Directors of Right Track notes:
“Our anxiety, frustration, and our warning on what lies ahead must be directed to those who
represent our society through local, National and UK Government:
- The need we have fulfilled over the last 40 years is not going away – if anything it will
worsen. - The capability to avoid exclusion from the mainstream will be weaker and not stronger.
- The ability to “bring them back” when they fall outside will disappear.
Bureaucracy, political self interest and “soundbites” like No One Left Behind do not meet the
needs of these most vulnerable members of our society. Focus and action are needed. Timely award of contracts, and timely payment on these contracts are critical for the planning, survival and continued work of hand to mouth Charitable Bodies like Right Track.
Whilst too late for Right Track Scotland Limited, perhaps bringing the flawed and unworkable system under scrutiny of those that can influence and can make a difference we very sincerely hope, that in some way, the needs of the community we have served will be still met without us.”
Right Track has been a member of STF for the last twenty years.
Right Track Scotland Press Release – March 2024 (PDF)
