New Gorbals Housing Association, which submitted a partnership bid with other key local organisations, said the award is crucial to help sustain work already taking place during the pandemic, such as emergency food parcels and free meals, while also opening up opportunities to help tackle key issues like loneliness and fuel poverty.

A wide range of projects will be supported through this funding, including online activity sessions for young children from Giggle N Grow, free lunches for young people and family dinner kits from Gorbals Youth Café, support for 92 BAME families from DAWSUN, and projects to connect with older people from Givin’ It Laldie. Bridging the Gap, TASK Childcare and Destiny’s Church will also receive funding to help with their ongoing response in the area.

Since the beginning of the UK’s lockdown period, over 1,000 emergency food parcels have been delivered to households across the Gorbals area. Organisations have been working hard to get essential supplies like food, medicine, and baby care items to those in need, while also making an effort to adapt their services to social distancing measures.

New Gorbals Housing Association’s chairperson, Linda Malone, said: “The response so far in Gorbals is something that we can all be proud of during this challenging situation. The hard work put in not just from staff at NGHA but also from our wonderful partners in the area has had a real impact on how local people have been able to cope at this time.

“I’m grateful that the Scottish Government have recognised the importance of this work and granted us the extra funding needed to continue and add to the services already being delivered.”

Michael Fullerton, community co-ordinator for Gorbals Thriving Places, added: “We’ve been very fortunate in the last couple of months to have such great organisations and charities come together to help those living in Gorbals.

“As well as those we’ve partnered with on this bid, we’ve also been working with Glasgow South East Foodbank, The Clutha Trust, and Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership to help get essential supplies to people who need them.

“This has been a lifeline for some households, and this further funding is so important to help us build on this. The £25,000 included in this bid for tackling fuel poverty will be key as so many people continue to stay at home.”

• Read all of our articles relating to COVID-19 here.