WIREDGOV

Plans to develop the network of food banks across Scotland have been given a boost of £944,708 from the Big Lottery Fund. The news came on the same day (16 APRIL) as the UK wide charity, The Trussell Trust, releases new figures confirming that 71,428 Scots relied on food banks to feed themselves over the last year. 

Yesterday’s award to the Trussell Trust will enable the organisation to employ a team of dedicated staff who will provide training, support and guidance to new and existing food banks across the country.

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “As a funder supporting individuals and families in greatest need, we are well aware of the current levels of hardship experienced within many of Scotland’s communities.  It is our mission to support these people through a wide range of projects addressing need.

“Over five years our award to the Trussell Trust will help support around 400,000 people across the country who are struggling with issues such as hunger, poverty and unemployment. By investing in this Scotland wide project, our funding will build a network of support around some of the most vulnerable people through providing access to emergency food relief.”

In its approach the Trussell Trust will identify and target those areas with high levels of deprivation where there is no emergency food provision. It will then provide the necessary support and training to local groups to help them set up a foodbank in their area.

Trussell Trust figures reveal that the number of people using foodbanks in Scotland has increased five-fold rising from 14,318 in 2012/2013 to 71,428 in 2013/2014.

Ewan Gurr, Scotland Development Officer, The Trussell Trust, said: “The massive rise in demand for emergency food relief highlights the extent to which foodbanks are a lifeline to many Scottish families. The Big Lottery Fund has a tremendous track record of supporting many worthy causes and we are pleased they have sought to support our efforts in Scotland. This generous contribution to The Trussell Trust will enhance the support in place for the men, women and children using our foodbanks and help develop provision in areas where that support does not currently exist.”

The’s award comes from the Big Lottery Fund’s Investing in Communities fund which is aimed at projects that support those communities, individuals and families in greatest need.

The Big Lottery Fund has already awarded over £19 million to over 100 projects through its Support and Connect programme aimed at supporting communities in Scotland to deal with increasing hardship. The money is providing essential lifelines including local food banks, money advice services, community clothing and starter pack projects.

*Photographs of Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair Maureen McGinn and volunteers at the Falkirk food bank are available on the number below.

For more information regarding this release please contact: 
Landa Rolland
Big Lottery Fund Scotland
0141 242 1415 | landa.rolland@biglotteryfund.org.uk

For more information on Big Lottery Fund Scotland (including programmes and grants awards):
Visit: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland
Ask BIG: http://ask.biglotteryfund.org.uk/help/scotland
Call: Big Advice Scotland: 0300 1237110

Notes to editors

• The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
• The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 BIG has awarded close to £6bn.
• The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
• In the year ending 31 March 2013, 28% of total National Lottery revenue was returned to the Good Causes.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £31 billion has been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
• The Scotland Committee has been making Big Lottery Fund decisions on Scottish projects since March 2007. As well as taking devolved decisions on Lottery spending, the Committee, led by Chair, Maureen McGinn, has and will continue to play a strategic role in the future direction of BIG in Scotland.
• The Big Lottery Fund is investing in Scotland’s communities through its Investing in Communities portfolio, as well as the small grants schemes Awards for All, Investing in Ideas, Communities and Families and 2014 Communities.