Scots Government commit £500K for food poverty projects

Funding designed to tackle food poverty has been allocated to 26 projects across Scotland, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced today.

According to the Trussell Trust, the number of people who used their food banks in Scotland between 1st April 2013 and 31st March 2014 rose to 71,428 which is a 400 per cent increase and five times the number compared to the previous financial year. This includes more than 22,000 children who used their food banks during this time period.

The Scottish Government’s Emergency Food Fund (EFF) is part of a £1 million investment in food aid, with £500,000 already committed to charity FareShare which redistributes surplus food from retailers to charities supporting their local communities.

Today’s funding of £518,000 will deliver help in 17 local authority areas.

EFF will support projects which respond to immediate demands for emergency food aid and help to address the underlying causes of food poverty. Lead organisations include Citizen’s Advice Bureau, food banks, co-ops and other projects run by faith based and community organisations. Actions range from increasing food provision, to promoting healthy eating, benefits and other advice and in some cases linking food providers across a local area.

Ms Sturgeon made the announcement during a visit to Greater Maryhill Food Bank which is to receive almost £40,000.

The announcement comes ahead of a welfare debate in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, August 13.