Tackling poverty and inequalities

Projects around the country supporting local action to address poverty and social exclusion will share £4 million of funding.

Grants from the Social Economy Growth Fund – backed by the Scottish Government and the European Social Fund – have been awarded to 22 community organisations, social enterprises and charity groups.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell announced the latest round of funding while visiting Orkney Blide Trust, which has been given more than £218,000 to develop services and expand support for people with experience of mental ill health.

Other projects to receive funding include:

• Partick Thistle Charitable Trust: To offer subsidised places for low income families on out of school activity programmes, including food and free transport.
• Aberdeen Foyer: To provide support for 12-18 year olds who have been excluded from school or are at risk of exclusion, and their families.
• Saheliya: To increase help on offer to vulnerable BME women across Scotland who experience violence and abusive cultural practices and face language or other barriers.

Aileen Campbell said:

“The Social Economy Growth Fund enables organisations like Orkney Blide Trust to design and deliver community-led solutions to overcome poverty, disadvantage and inequalities – which is a key principle of our Fairer Scotland Action Plan.

“This is about regenerating and empowering communities so they can become more resilient and find the answers to tackling inequality for long term benefit.

“To help achieve this we are encouraging councils and third sector partners to develop local strategies that advance the social enterprise sector in every part of Scotland.”

Background

More on the 22 projects awarded funding.

The Fairer Scotland Action Plan included a £29 million programme to tackle poverty, with £12.5 million from the European Social Fund. Of this £29 million, £18.9 million has been allocated to the Aspiring Communities Fund and £9.7 million to Growing the Social Economy.