£27 million to tackle disadvantage

Community projects tackling poverty and disadvantage will receive £27 million funding over the next three years.

Food pantries which help lower food bills and cost of living advice services are among the 100 initiatives developed by local people set to receive grants from the Investing in Communities Fund.

Among the successful Edinburgh bids are Community Renewal, who receive funding for Our Neighbourhood: A new hyperlocal Community Wealth Building partnership, Dr Bell’s Family Centre (Start Well, Live Well: Wellbeing Support for Families in Leith programme), Fresh Start (Fresh Connections) and North Edinburgh Arts (Link Up).

Other Edinburgh projects to receive funding include The Broomhouse Centre, The Venchie Children and Young People’s Project and WHALE Arts Agency in Wester Hailes.

Final details of the grants allocated will be made public after letters of acceptance have been received.

Supported projects are delivering multiple activities, including:

• debt and benefit advice to avoid electricity and gas disconnection or eviction for rent arrears in South East Glasgow
• a furniture reuse scheme in Inverness and a swap and repair shop in West Lothian
• community food growing in South West Glasgow
• school uniform exchanges and supporting parents into employment in South Lanarkshire
• help for mothers establishing micro businesses in South West Edinburgh
• training for jobseekers and counselling to address mental health and substance abuse issues in the Borders

Community Wealth Minister Tom Arthur said: “This fund will help directly address issues facing disadvantaged communities, such as unemployment and food insecurity.

“We have been clear that the Scottish Budget is prioritising our limited resources to tackle child poverty, invest in our transition to net zero, and protect public services. And the projects supported through Investing in Communities speak to these priorities.

“Many will help ease immediate challenges from the cost of living crisis but also support communities in delivering longer term plans to address poverty.”

Investing in Communities