Targeted funding to tackle poverty and improve lives for residents and families across Scotland
TOTAL funding equating to £140,000 has played a vital role in improving the lives of hundreds of Wheatley Homes tenants thanks to a leading community benefit fund.
Enabling many to secure vital household essentials, the money has provided much needed digital equipment, reading books for children, furniture and white goods for homes in various parts of Scotland.
Awarded over a period of eight years by the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) through its Community Benefit Fund (CBF), these funds have also enabled Wheatley Foundation, part of Wheatley Group, to roll out key initiatives supporting families and individuals in need.
This includes access to essential items such as furniture and white goods, as well as refurbished digital equipment donated by Wheatley employees.
The wide-reaching fund draws from various sources, including £80,000 from SPA’s Community Benefit Fund and a £60,000 contribution from the LHC Procurement Group to improve the living conditions for vulnerable households across Wheatley over a period of two years.
Laura Crumlish, Foundation Manager at Wheatley Foundation, said: “Funding for Home Comforts will allow us to provide a lifeline for people who are struggling to access basic home essentials – items many of us take for granted.
“The funding is supporting programmes which continue to change lives for the better and give people in Wheatley communities an opportunity to reach their full potential.”
The Home Comforts project provides upcycled furniture and white goods, all cleaned, refurbished, and offered free of charge to Wheatley tenants. Wheatley Homes East has partnered with Four Square, a local Edinburgh charity, to deliver the initiative.
Four Square supports people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by offering accommodation, advice, and training opportunities. The charity also runs the Edinburgh Furniture Initiative, which plays a key role in the project.
Through this partnership, customers are offered a unique, retail-style experience where they can choose refurbished furniture and homeware that suits their personal taste and needs. Changing Lives, an employability programme provides training and support to vulnerable and unemployed tenants.
Another is Environmental Roots, a four-week pre-employability programme designed to help young people build confidence and prepare for future opportunities, including the Wheatley Environmental Apprenticeship.
A further project is, StreetWyze, an initiative for young people to raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime and gang violence.
The 12-week programmes delivered throughout the year focused on themes including social media, territorialism and provided alternative activities to risk taking behaviours.
Laura added: “This tailored approach will ensure that people in different communities can benefit in ways that are right for them – whether that’s choosing their own furniture or receiving a ready-made pack when moving into a new home.”
The initiative goes beyond furniture, with the Community Benefit Fund also supporting a range of programmes that deliver lasting impact across Wheatley communities.
This includes Wheatley Foundation’s partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library – a monthly book gifting scheme, which provides free books to children under five.
It helps to spark a love of reading and support early learning in homes across Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dumfries and Galloway.
In addition, the fund is also supporting Wheatley’s Techshare programme, which refurbishes and upcycles used laptops and iPads.
These devices are distributed to individuals and families, along with access to software and digital skills training, to help bridge the digital divide and boost employability opportunities.
Lesley Peaty, Regional Director at the Scottish Procurement Alliance, said: “This is a fantastic example of how social value is at the heart of procurement. We’re committed to ensuring that every pound we invest benefits people in real and lasting ways.
“Our work with Wheatley Group highlights how collaboration and thoughtful investment can directly uplift families and strengthen communities.”
The Scottish Procurement Alliance’s Community Benefit Fund is a cornerstone of its wider mission to channel procurement savings into meaningful projects, supporting housing providers and regenerating communities across Scotland.
To learn more about SPA, please visit: https://www.scottishprocurement.scot/
To learn more about the Wheatley Foundation, please visit: https://www.wheatley-group.com/better-lives
