Charity boost thanks to West Scotland builder

A local foodbank has become one of the first charities to be given a cash boost by a regional builder as part of its year-long initiative to support local communities.

Airdrie Foodbank, which provides emergency food supplies to individuals and families who are in crisis and struggling to purchase food, received £1,000 from Persimmon Homes West Scotland.

The donation kickstarted Persimmon’s Community Champions project, which will see a pot of £24,000 donated to local groups and charities over the next 12 months throughout the region.

Two groups will now be chosen every month to receive a match-funding donation and charities are being encouraged to apply by completing an online form at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.

This month, money was also donated to Your Voice – Iverclyde Community Care Forum.

Airdrie Foodbank, in conjunction with the Trussell Trust, launched in August 2014 to provide emergency food parcels and also offer “signposting” onto other agencies who are able to help clients overcome their particular crisis.

The team at the foodbank work hard to meet the drastically increased demand for food hampers that contain three days nutritionally-balanced emergency food to those most in need. In 2013/14 913,138 people received three days’ emergency food from a Trussell Trust foodbank, an increase of 163 per cent compared to the 2012-13 financial year.

David Findlay, manager at Airdrie Foodbank, said: “We are delighted that Persimmon Homes have chosen our project to receive £1,000 from their community grant fund. This will help us with day to day operational costs and equipment.

“As part of The Trussell Trust’s “more than food” approach, the grant will also allow us to train some volunteers in welfare rights and money/debt advice.”

Ingrid Gahagan, sales and marketing director for West Scotland for Persimmon Homes, said: “We are very pleased to hand over our first donation to such a worthy cause. This charity plays a vital role within the community and it is easy to see how people really benefit from the work they do.”