LISTEN: Perth and Kinross Foodbank looks to future after council cash grant
The service has been awarded £10,000 from the local authority’s community justice and inequality fund.
Last updated 14th Feb 2018
Perth and Kinross Foodbank says it is looking to the future, after securing a £10,000 grant from the council.
The cash will help towards running costs and comes after concern was raised about the future of the organisation.
The Foodbank applied to the local authority for funding and it has been awarded the money from the council's Community Justice and Inequality Fund.
Marjorie Clark, committee secretary at Perth & Kinross Foodbank, said: "We were quite concern at the end of last year that we were spending more than we were taking in.
"We spoke to the council and they very kindly have managed to find this money towards their year end to support the work of the food bank
"We've got wages, rent, vans and petrol.... It costs us between £30 and £35,000.
“When we started we had lots of start-up grants, but we’ve been running four years now and it gets more and more difficult to find money.
"We're seeing an increase in people coming to the foodbank for all sorts of reasons.
Councillor Murray Lyle, depute leader of Perth & Kinross Council, said: "Perth & Kinross Foodbank benefits vulnerable residents of Perth and Kinross when they are facing a difficult time in their life.
“I'm pleased that Perth & Kinross Council has been able to identify appropriate funding to support them to continue this work.
"The £10,000 identified will be paid in 2017/18, and we are considering how the council can support the Foodbank going forward."
Councillor Peter Barrett, convener of the council's housing and communities committee, which includes both community safety and equalities within its remit, said: "The support we are providing will also trigger other savings in their costs. "The roll out of Universal Credit will increase demand for the supports provided by the Foodbank, and we are committed to supporting a partnership with them to tackle poverty and inequalities in our area."
Councillor Willie Wilson, Depute Provost, said: "I would urge everyone who can to contribute to the work of the Foodbank by taking part in local collections. This is now easier than ever with collection points in all Perth and Kinross libraries.