£250,000 for food provision and £50,000 for fuel vouchers is to be provided as part of a range of actions to help citizens facing poverty and inequality over the next year.
The actions, which value £1million, will be allocated in two stages, with over £530,000 being distributed now and the remaining balance to be allocated later in the year.
The full range of actions in stage one includes:
- £250,000 to buy food and pay for weekly shops, through food charity CFINE.
- £50,000 to pay for fuel vouchers and energy advice through social enterprise SCARF.
- £100,000 for housing support.
- £20,000 to top-up school clothing vouchers for around 5,000 pupils.
- £20,000 for telecare: technology to support vulnerable people in their homes.
- £20,000 to support putting power of attorneys in place for vulnerable people.
- £60,000 for childcare costs through ABZ works.
- £20,000 for a promotional campaign, through SHMU, to highlight the lived experience of those affected by poverty.
Funding was allocated following engagement with external advisers, the Council’s Strategy Board, the Health and Social Care Partnership, our employability team, ACVO and Community Planning Aberdeen’s Anti-Poverty Outcome Improvement Group.