For immediate release:
LOCAL MSP WELCOMES FOOD FUNDING FOR FAMILIES
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has welcomed confirmation that South Lanarkshire families unable to access food due to coronavirus will get support from the Scottish Government.
Local authorities are sharing £30 million of new investment from the Scottish Government Food Fund to support those struggling. South Lanarkshire Council has been allocated a share of £1.94 million.
The funding is one part of the Scottish Government’s £350 million Communities Fund.
The money will support those most in need including families with children who are eligible for free school meals, older people, those with long-term health conditions and pregnant women.
Councils will have flexibility to use this additional resource in ways that best meet emerging local needs and circumstances, working with community groups and businesses to support home delivery, provide financial help and meet dietary requirements.
Commenting, Clare Haughey MSP said:
“Coronavirus has brought enormous disruption to all of our lives, and some people will be concerned about accessing food.
“This investment will help those across Rutherglen and Cambuslang at most risk, such as older people, to access food through this crisis.
“I am grateful to South Lanarkshire Council and their staff for the work they are doing on this and other matters in what are truly unprecedented times.
“There is incredible community-led work in helping vulnerable people get access to food, so please don’t hesitate to contact me if you are needing any assistance or to be signposted.”
Clare Haughey MSP can be contacted on 0141 561 5131, or by email at clare.haughey.msp@parliament.scot.
ENDS
Notes:
The £350 million Communities Fund was announced by Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell on 18 March 2020.
Since it was announced, over £100 million of new support has been delivered to local authorities to assist their efforts. This includes £50 million in hardship funding, £22 million to bolster the Scottish Welfare Fund and £30 million from the Food Fund.
The guidance shared with local authorities outlines seven key principles to support local thinking about how funding can best be targeted and deployed.
People worried about food during the COVID-19 crisis should contact their local authority for further information on the help and support available to them.
Funding by local authority:
| Local Authority | Allocation (millions) |
| Aberdeen City | 0.802 |
| Aberdeenshire | 1.023 |
| Angus | 0.602 |
| Argyll & Bute | 0.44 |
| Clackmannanshire | 0.312 |
| Dumfries & Galloway | 0.89 |
| Dundee City | 1.152 |
| East Ayrshire | 0.838 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 0.436 |
| East Lothian | 0.447 |
| East Renfrewshire | 0.348 |
| Edinburgh, City of | 1.651 |
| Eilean Siar | 0.147 |
| Falkirk | 0.878 |
| Fife | 2.254 |
| Glasgow City | 4.799 |
| Highland | 1.199 |
| Inverclyde | 0.565 |
| Midlothian | 0.446 |
| Moray | 0.448 |
| North Ayrshire | 1.038 |
| North Lanarkshire | 2.114 |
| Orkney Islands | 0.099 |
| Perth & Kinross | 0.621 |
| Renfrewshire | 1.063 |
| Scottish Borders | 0.576 |
| Shetland Islands | 0.104 |
| South Ayrshire | 0.625 |
| South Lanarkshire | 1.937 |
| Stirling | 0.417 |
| West Dunbartonshire | 0.684 |
Published: 10th April 2020
Clare Haughey MSP 