Inverness Foodbank granted £25k from Common Good Fund’s winter payment budget
A foodbank in Inverness has been awarded £25,000 as it faces rising demands for help amid the cost of living crisis.
The foodbank- run by the charity, Blythswood Care - in Glebe Street will receive the funding from the Inverness Common Good Fund’s winter payments budget.
Councillor Ian Brown, chairman of the City of Inverness and area committee, said the funding application was a stark reminder that people still need help.
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“The rising demands on the Blythswood Foodbank from people, including children, asking for help continues to increase as do the pressures of rising costs and running expenses on the charity,” Cllr Brown said.
“This application before councillors is a stark reminder that many individuals and families need help in their cost of living crisis, and I am humbled that we have been able to provide this means of assistance.”
Inverness Councillors agreed to re-allocate funding from the Inverness winter payments scheme to the charity while noting that all current applications to the Inverness Common Good Fund for 2024/25 are closed due to oversubscription.
Members agreed to the reallocation of funding due to the significance and importance of the work of the foodbank which provides emergency food supplies to local individuals facing financial crises.
Clients come from a wide range of backgrounds, including people awaiting benefits, on low incomes, and those who have recently been made redundant.
Food donations are sourced from local community members, businesses, churches and schools.
More than 100 agencies, including Highland Council’s health and social care service, service points and housing services, refer clients to the foodbank.
The £25,000 will help cover the running costs of the Inverness project.