The Hillhead HA Welfare Rights Service will use the money to provide emergency food and fuel vouchers to tenants of Hillhead & Caledonia HAs in need, as well as residents of the local community.

The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will see many households through the summer holidays as families try to find extra money to keep their fridges full and lights on.

At the same time, the Welfare Rights Service will be able to ensure that tenants and residents are getting all of the benefits that they were entitled to which can include help to fill in claim forms, appeal benefit decisions, and help with budgeting.

Paula McCann, head of housing services at Hillhead HA, said: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way.

“Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to continue to provide emergency support to our local community.

“This is important because we’ve been supporting our tenants through the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis with emergency food and fuel vouchers.

“Last year, we provided £50,000 of emergency support and the funding from The National Lottery Community Fund allows us to continue to help households who are really struggling.”