Local charities receive funding from Fairer Aberdeen Coronavirus Pandemic Hardship Fund

22 February 2021

Fairer Aberdeen is set to award a total of £368,000 to 47 local charities and community organisations to support people across the city impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, was announced today [Monday 22 February].

The aim of the Fairer Aberdeen Coronavirus Pandemic Hardship Fund is to help those at increased risk due to the pandemic, including people living in the most deprived areas, people living in households on low incomes, younger people, disabled people, minority ethnic households and households with children.

The local charities and community organisations will use the funding to provide food, food vouchers, toiletries, household essentials and fuel top-ups to support those in financial hardship, as well as counselling sessions and activities to support mental health and wellbeing and tackle social isolation.

Councillor Jenny Laing, Co-Leader of Aberdeen City Council and Chair of the Fairer Aberdeen Board, said: “I am so pleased that we have been able to support so many local charities and community organisations in these extremely difficult times through the Fairer Aberdeen Coronavirus Pandemic Fund.

“Aberdeen City Council and partners, including community representatives in Fairer Aberdeen, are committed to tackling poverty and deprivation which is a key objective of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP). By working together to deliver early intervention initiatives and targeted support we can help those in need now and in the future and work towards achieving our goal of Aberdeen being a city where everyone can prosper.”

The organisations awarded funding are:

Nepalese Himalayan Association Scotland; Inchgarth Community Centre; Leanne Fund; Archie Foundation; St Machar Parent Support; Printfield Community Project; SANDS; ABERnecessities; Seaton Community Church; Aberdeen Bangladeshi Welfare Trust; Middlefield Community Project; Grampian Autistic Society; Team Jak Foundation; Homestart Aberdeen; Sunnybank Community Centre; Alcohol & Drugs Action; Langstane Housing; Aberdeen Cyrenians; Rosemount & Mile End Community Council; African Women's Group Scotland; RCC Jesus House Aberdeen; Froghall Community Centre; Pathways; Catalyst Vineyard Church; Aberdeen Foyer; Earth & Worms; ACIS Youth - Mental Health Aberdeen; Tillydrone Community Campus Food Larder; SensationALL; TripleA's - Autism Awareness Association; One Seed Forward; Gerrard Street Baptist Church; Quarriers; Igbo Community Aberdeen; Inspire PTL; Rotary Club Aberdeen (St Fittocks); Silver City Surfers; Powis Community Centre; Old Torry Community Centre; Organisation for Nepalese Culture & Welfare; GREC; Befriend A Child; Tillydrone Community Flat; Fountain of Love, Aberdeen; Northfield Community Learning Association; Police Scotland (early intervention/youth workers, Denis Law Legacy Trust and Aberdeen Foyer Outreach workers); African Council Ltd.

Ron Bird, Community Worker, Middlefield Community Project said: “The award is an incredible boost to the area at a time of terrific challenge. We are very grateful to the Fairer Aberdeen Board, with representatives from the local communities, for dedicating their time and energies to giving this level of support to our community. We will be able to provide a range of support from basic food support to active transport and wellbeing improvements to local amenities.”

Olushola Ajide, Project Manager, Fountain of Love said: “As we accept the award of Fairer Aberdeen Coronavirus Pandemic Hardship Fund, we can only imagine the great relief and help this will be to the individuals and families that will be benefitting from this great initiative. Once again, Aberdeen City Council has risen to the occasion by looking out for the vulnerable in the community. We are absolutely certain that the beneficiaries will be most enthused to receive this help, and on their behalf, we hereby express gratitude to the Council and the Fairer Aberdeen Fund Board for making available much needed help.”

Fiona Young, Development Worker, Tillydrone Community Flat said: “We are delighted to be awarded a grant from the Fairer Aberdeen Coronavirus Pandemic Hardship Fund, especially given the high volume of applications. Working during the pandemic has brought into sharp focus the impact of the current situation on families and individuals through the area who are struggling with a barrage of issues from home working, furlough, job losses, increased energy and food costs, home schooling, loneliness and increased mental ill health.”

Paula Cormack, Chief Executive, The ARCHIE Foundation said: “The pandemic continues to make it incredibly difficult for charities like ARCHIE to raise the necessary funds to support families when they need it most. It was such a relief to learn that the Fairer Aberdeen Hardship Fund will be supporting ARCHIE’s emergency grant service and it is great comfort to know that despite the difficulties the charity is facing as a result of the pandemic we can continue helping those in our community who need it most.”

The Fairer Aberdeen Coronavirus Pandemic Fund is funded by Aberdeen City Council and from the Scottish Government Hardship Fund.

Fairer Aberdeen is funded by Aberdeen City Council. It aims is to tackle poverty and deprivation; support partners to work together to tackle area-based and individual poverty and to help more people access and sustain employment opportunities. Funding supports initiatives and services for the most disadvantaged communities and vulnerable people across the city.

The Fairer Aberdeen Board is made up of representatives from Aberdeen City Council, ACVO, Police Scotland, Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, the Civic Forum and residents from the priority areas of Aberdeen.