Published: Thursday, 2nd July, 2009 8:45am

'We can't have a gala because you won't help'

by Matt Meade

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INVERKEITHING"S annual children"s gala has been axed after organisers blasted tight-fisted local parents for failing to help keep the event alive.

The decision was taken after only three people turned up to a fund-raising meeting in April and only half the required £8000 to hold the event had been raised.

Helen Cullen (57), gala secretary, told the Press her small committee of volunteers were 'hitting their head off a brick wall' trying to get locals to help out and that children had been let down badly.

She said, 'We actually go round the doors but there"s only a few of us and Inverkeithing is huge.

'We get people saying "my kids don"t go to the gala" but you go to an elderly person"s home and they can give you £10 but a house full of kids might just give a pound. People are not interested.

'In the past we have been full of enthusiasm but after five years I have had enough. 'It"s been going on for 50-odd years but we have to tell people we cannot have a gala because you won"t help.'

The six-strong committee sent out letters to all 260 Inverkeithing Primary School pupils requesting parents to attend the April fund-raising meeting.

It was hoped a good turnout would ensure the gala, which was to be held in August, would be the best yet.

Mrs Cullen, who has been on the committee for five years, believes it is local kids who suffer because their parents won"t get involved or put their hands in their pockets.

She added, 'My opinion is that there are a lot of kids in Inverkeithing who are (from) struggling (families) and these kids don"t get holidays or fun days out.

'The gala was the only day when no-one would say "you can"t go" because it didn"t cost anything. I"m heartbroken the kids aren"t going to get it.

'We could have held a basic gala but people would have said, "This is a crap gala". It was a hard decision to make. I"m 57 and I attended when I was 11 so it has been going for years.'

Inverkeithing councillor and resident Alice McGarry said people must do more to ensure next year"s event goes ahead.

She said, 'If the community want a gala it"s up to them to support it. It can"t always be supported from handouts alone.

'Galas are now an expensive business. Gone are the days when you would get a parade and a free bag from the bakers up the road.

'Businesses don"t support it much either any more but they are going through hard times as well. The effort has to come from parents whose kids will be going.

'It"s a damned shame and another community thing that"s gone.'

The money already raised will now be set aside for next year"s gala, likely to be held in June.