Families on lower incomes and older people are to get more support with extra funding for lifeline services to cope with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The funding from the Scottish Government’s Supporting Communities Fund will go directly to more than 250 community groups.
The community groups operate as ‘anchors’, bringing together charities, volunteers, social enterprises and the public sector to co-ordinate the local response and channel support where it is needed. This includes making hot meals, organising grocery and prescription deliveries and providing wellbeing support.
Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said:
“We know that community groups working in the heart of our communities and neighbourhoods have a wealth of experience in responding to challenges. We have seen this through many examples of the incredible response to COVID-19 in the past weeks that have made such a huge difference to so many people. This inspiring work that is already underway in our neighbourhoods is proving essential to our nation’s resilience.
“This funding will be a valuable lifeline for the range of innovative support available for people in our communities, and we are working fast to get that support to where it is needed most.”
Background
The Supporting Communities Fund was announced on 18 March 2020 as part of a £350 million package to help those most affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Up to £10 million is being made available as an initial sum available to support community anchor organisations, and a further allocation of £10 million has been approved to support the second phase of the fund.
