The funding was allocated following Places for People annual survey which found that 26% of customers in Scotland were struggling financially. A number of customers also stated that they had ran out of food provisions and many expressed an interest in food-related cost-of-living support. It comes after the Trussel Trust reported a 16% increase in demand on local food banks between April and September 2023.

The foodbanks that will be supported include:

• Edinburgh Food Project – with seven centres the funding from Places for People will look to benefit over 150 people with food parcels, in total more than £5,500.
• The Vennie Food Outlet in Livingston, West Lothian - the centre based at Mosswood Community Centre will see over £1,500 going to support over 100 individuals through the donation.
• Newtongrange Development Trust in Newtongrange – the self-referral service for local residents, which opens on Sundays will receive £1,500 to support discounted weekly shops.

This support is one of the ways Places for People works in their communities to make a difference and support activities across a wide range of areas. Selected schemes are based on the insight from their annual survey and targeted based on local needs. By taking this approach, Places for People has identified nine food banks to allocate funding to.

In addition to the funding, Places for People is working directly with each foodbank to ensure that the customers who access the service are offered further support by being referred to any relevant support.

Marcus Hulme, director of places impact at Places for People, said: “We have seen first-hand the impact that the cost-of-living crisis is having on communities, and we want to do everything we can to support our customers and communities through this difficult time. The rise in the use of food banks across the country is deeply concerning, we hope that this funding will help to support our local food banks and help provide people with the essentials they need.

“This funding is only part of the continuing work we are doing to support our customers and communities, between April 2022 and March 2023 we provided £750,000 of financial support through our Cost of Living Fund including rent relief and vouchers for essentials including food and fuel. A fund which we have dedicated more funds to this financial year.”

Places for People has an ongoing commitment to support communities, in April 2023 they dedicated £1 million to their cost-of-living fund to help ease the challenge of the steeply rising cost of living, the fund is used to support customers with food and fuel vouchers, rent and service charge relief as well as energy efficient packs.