Community-led groups across Scotland are sharing more than £1.5 million of National Lottery funding to distribute to people who are the most vulnerable to cost of living pressures.
The latest round of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to 73 groups means targeted support for food or fuel provision and access to warm clothing or electric blankets can be distributed immediately in response to the challenges people are currently facing.
Thanks to an award of £23,500, Annexe Communities will provide emergency provisions to people and households in Partick, Glasgow.
As well as distributing food vouchers, clothing vouchers and energy top-ups, the group will also be able to run a soup social and provide ingredient packs for people to make their favourite soups at home.
Annexe’s work began during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kelly Young, 41 from Partick, who has four children, was referred to the Annexe when she lost her job in December 2021. Struggling to keep up with rent payments and put food on the table, she lost two stone in six weeks because she wanted to make sure her children ate first.
Over the last year, Annexe Communities has helped Young with advice, food parcels and fuel vouchers. She said: “I now have a job as a cleaner and am working hard to support my family as best I can. It took a lot for me to swallow my pride and admit I needed help for me and my family but I am now out working and I still can’t manage. That’s why places like the Annexe are so important right now.”
Development worker Jane Cowie said, “This funding means we can support struggling local families and people over the next few months so they can eat and are able to heat their homes.
“We have joined forces with other local organisations and are using our collective knowledge ... to work together and to reach andto help as many people in need [as we can].”
Other groups receiving National Lottery funding include Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust, Falkirk Safebase, Glasgow the Caring City and West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare.
