A government-funded victim support charity is facing legal action after telling its deputy chief executive and five other staff they are at risk of redundancy.

Four of the charity's trustees have also resigned in recent months. And the Scottish government has commissioned an external review of the charity.

An “insider source” reportedly told the Herald Scotland the charity was “at war” and “the place in uproar".

"The board and management both believe they are in charge," the source said.

Several employees are reported as having lodged grievances, including communications manager David Sinclair, who was quoted by the newspaper as saying he was “informed by a colleague while on annual leave” that he was being made compulsorily redundant.

“As a result of the process followed, I have lodged a formal grievance with VSS which has still to be heard," the newspaper reported him as saying. "Because the proposal has serious implications for my professional reputation I have little option but to pursue that grievance up to and including a tribunal and other legal means."

Other staff facing redundancy include two receptionists, one of seven business delivery managers and the partnership development manager.

Acting chief executive Susan Gallagher said the charity was forced to streamline funds towards frontline services by increasing budget restrictions.

“Like many organisations we have had a standstill budget for many years and as such we do need to continue to ensure our frontline is supported,” she told Civil Society News.

“VSS is totally committed to protecting our frontline services and as such we are simplifying our HQ functions to put resources back into our frontline.”

Gallagher said she was hopeful that some of those who have been made redundant could be redeployed to frontline services.

“We are in the process of consultation with six staff who may be at risk of redundancy,” she said. “We are hopeful that some of these may result in redeployment into the frontline where this is appropriate.”

Gallagher did not confirm which board members had left but said there was “no correlation between the board resignations over the last year and the present consultation exercise”.

“Board members leave for variety of reasons,” she said. “Our chair resigned in August last year, one trustee came to the end of their term and two other trustees have resigned for a variety of reasons throughout the year. Replacements will take place in September as part of our normal processes.”

External Review

Accountancy firm KPMG has been appointed by the Scottish Government to conduct an external review of the charity, which it provides with over £4m a year in funds.

The charity was expected to administer the distribution of new funds raised through a surcharge on court-imposed fines to pay for improved victim support services.

But uncertainty at the charity has made it unclear whether it will receive the £1.2m a year cash.

According to the charity’s website, Victim Support Scotland is the “lead voluntary organisation in Scotland helping people affected by crime”.

The charity provides support, practical help and information to victims, witnesses and others affected by crime.