First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has backed a new multi-million pound fund to help over 750 West Lothian families during the cost of living crisis - despite facing criticism for scrapping free school meals for all P6 and P7 pupils this summer.
Housing provider Wheatley Group has officially launched a £6 million fund - Here for You - to support tenants of Wheatley’s Registered Social Landlords.
This includes the West Lothian Housing Partnership, which provides 750 affordable homes for local people.
With average household energy bills tipped to reach £5000 by January 2023 and inflation expected to be as high as 13 per cent this year, Wheatley says it has acted quickly to put the new fund in place.
Nicola Sturgeon attended the launch at the Pearce Institute in Govan in the southside of Glasgow and met tenants who will be helped by the ‘Here for You’ fund and other support services already offered by Wheatley.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Households are facing a cost-of-living crisis unlike anything most of us have seen in our lifetimes, with the most vulnerable being hit the hardest. So it is vital that all those with the power and means to provide support do so.
“That’s why I’m so pleased to see the launch of Wheatley’s £6million cost-of-living crisis fund which I know will provide essential support for those who need it most.”
Wheatley Group Chair Jo Armstrong said: “We know these are extremely tough times – and with winter will only become tougher for tenants. That is why Wheatley, more than ever, is doing all we can to protect the people we work for across Scotland from the worst impacts of the cost-of-living crisis.
“Our new Here for You campaign and fund will support more than 20,000 people most badly affected in our communities across central and southern Scotland.
“Here for You will expand and strengthen further the support programmes Wheatley put in place throughout the pandemic. Programmes that we know – through hard experience – provide essential, vital support to people in need.”
The Daily reported the Scottish Parliament increased spending on Holyrood canteen subsidies to £75,000 a month before Nicola Sturgeon reneged on an election pledge to deliver meals to all P6 and P7 pupils.
A Scottish Government spokesman insisted the primary rollout was a work in progress despite it being promised in August. He said: “We remain committed to rolling out free school lunches to all children in primary school.
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