The Scottish Government has announced that considerable funding is being committed to funding community projects that are aiming to tackle poverty and disadvantage.
Investment amounting to £27 million is to be allocated over the course of the next three years, with over one hundred initiatives, developed by local people, benefitting from the Investing in Communities Fund.
Multiple activities are being delivered by each of the projects being allocated funding, including:
- South West Glasgow – Debt and benefit advice being provided to help people avoid electricity and gas disconnection for rent arrears. This will be alongside community food growing.
- West Lothian – A swap and repair shop
- Inverness – A furniture reuse scheme
- South Lanarkshire – Supporting parents into employment whilst also helping children with school uniform exchanges.
- South West Edinburgh – Help for mothers setting up microbusinesses
- The Borders – Addressing mental health and substance abuse issues by training jobseekers and providing counselling.
Tom Arthur, Community Wealth Minister, 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 out 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 in delivering longer term plans to address poverty.”
