WIREDGOV

Go ahead for 14 projects to tackle inequalities in Edinburgh.

Projects which promote healthy eating, IT skills and household budgeting will receive more than £690,000 funding to tackle poverty and inequalities in Edinburgh.

14 projects have secured a share of the Scottish Government’s People and Communities Fund (PCF) to change disadvantaged communities by providing advice, training or voluntary opportunities.

These include Port of Leith Housing Association’s Canny Budgeting which will receive £35,000 to offer advice to residents on tackling fuel poverty, more than £10,000 for Dunedin Canmore Housing Ltd’s Digital Skills for All for IT workshops and £23,000 for Broomhouse Health Strategy’s healthy eating classes.

The 20 More project, will receive £37,000 through PCF to empower local people and help households save £20 a week, through training opportunities which will allow them to gain skills and qualifications in community development, and benefits and energy advice, at the project’s community shop.

Speaking on a visit to the 20 More Community Shop and Serenity Café which is also operated by Comas, Community Empowerment Minister Marco Biagi said:

“Every community in Scotland has different challenges and aspirations and there is no one-size fits all approach to tackling poverty.

“That’s why our People and Communities Fund is giving communities in Edinburgh the power and confidence to shape their own futures.

“With household budgets under pressure, it’s great to see a project like 20 More looking for ways to save 600 of the area’s most vulnerable families at least £20 a week and helping to ease some of the stress of paying their bills.”

Ruth Campbell, Chief Executive of Comas said:

“We are so pleased that the Scottish Government is focusing on empowering communities, as sustainable change must be community-led and start from the grassroots. This grant enables us to put local people in the driving seat and builds their capacity for community-led action.

“Training local people in benefits advice and energy saving will directly impact on wellbeing in this community. It will also help some residents gain employment in these growing sectors, so the grant will have a strong ripple effect.”

Notes To Editors

The full list of projects being funded by the People and Communities Fund across Scotland are listed here:http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/regeneration/community/pcf/awards

Between 2012 and 2015, 156 projects received funding worth £18.3 million from the People and Communities Fund.

Further information on the People and Communities Fund: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/regeneration/community/pcf

As part of the Programme for Government, the First Minister announced a new £10 million Empowering Communities Fund. This fund encompasses the existing £9.4 million People and Communities Fund to help support communities to tackle poverty and inequalities on their own terms.

This brings the total funding available for community-led activity to £19.4 million in 2015/16. 197 projects will receive funding from the £12.6 million People and Communities Fund. The remaining budget from the Empowering Communities Fund will be allocated to projects that support a wide range of community-led initiatives.