TWELVE local charities based across Scotland and the North East of England have received a valuable lifeline to continue providing vital services to its communities, thanks to the funding provided through Scotmid’s Community Connect initiative.
The Community Connect initiative is awarded twice a year and provides good cause groups with the chance to receive funding from an overall pot of £84,000.
Applications are shortlisted and voted on by Scotmid and Lakes & Dales Co-op members, with the latest successful groups announced this month.
The full list of charities are:
West of Scotland: The People’s Pantry, Glasgow’s Golden Generation and No One Dies Alone in Ayrshire
East of Scotland: Edinburgh Young Carers and The Junction in Edinburgh and Fairway Fife in Dunfermline
North of Scotland: The Barn Project, HomeStart Aberdeen and Just Bee Productions in Dundee
North East England: Eden Valley Players in Cumbria, Weardale Together and the Seaton Delaval Welcome Café
The funding will support each good cause group with a financial boost, enabling them to continue delivering a range of community-based services, which support some of the most vulnerable people in society, those in greatest need or who are facing financial hardship.
Katrina McGhee at the People’s Pantry said: “The People’s Pantry Foodbank is hugely grateful to have been awarded £15,000 from Scotmid. This initiative is vital in helping local community projects such as ours, particularly in the wake of the cost-of-living crisis. This funding will go a long way as we help support needy families and individuals in one of the Scotland’s most deprived areas.”
Tim Wright from Eden Valley Players, said: “We are thrilled to receive this funding which will help us to continue producing plays and holding community events. Theatre is a great way to bring people of all backgrounds together to celebrate each other’s differences.”
Jim Watson, President of Scotmid, said: ” Our Community Connect initiative provides amazing charities across Scotland with funding which goes directly into helping their communities. We’re incredibly proud to support so many worthy good causes, whose mission it is to make society better.
“As we enter the darker months, it is more important than ever to provide help where you can and we are grateful to be able to play our part in supporting the communities in which we serve.”
Since Scotmid’s Community Connect initiative launched in 2017, more than £550,000 has been awarded to more than 66 good cause groups, enabling key projects to continue operating in their local areas.
