Since March last year, the Association and its community partners which include Glasgow West of Scotland Forum, EHRA, DTAS, The Ruchazie Pantry and Ruchazie Parish Church have:

• Made 1650 food deliveries
• Delivered 1710 hot lunches and over 5000 packed lunches
• Provided white goods for tenants
• Supported delivery of Cash for Kids
• Supported over 200 tenants with energy costs
• Made Over 150 welfare calls
• Provided tenants with food vouchers

Until December Ruchazie has secured £41,000 in funding from Cash for Kids and Glasgow West of Scotland Forum through the Supporting Communities Fund to support food provision through the Ruchazie Pantry and support tenants with energy costs.

The management committee approved a decision in December to support families by delivering food vouchers to help with festive dinners for each tenant and £25 shop voucher for each child under 16.

Director Janice Shields said: “As a small organisation we face many challenges to provide a wider role service and committee made the decision to use funds to support tenants throughout this difficult time and with the support of other community partners and the commitment of staff and tenants we are proud of what we have achieved.

“We continue to support families through this second period of lockdown, and I am delighted that we have been able to secure further funding from the GWSF/DTAS partnership that will allow us to provide financial support to tenants for additional energy costs during this second lockdown. Families are spending more time at home, using more gas/electricity and being able to give some support relieves some of the financial burden. We will also be able to support The Ruchazie Pantry for food provision. The Pantry has been a successful project for this area and is well used locally and further afield. We will continue to support our tenants by securing funding where available.”

Hugh Holland chair added: “Although our office remains closed to tenants there has been little disruption to our service. Staff, working from home continue to engage with tenants. Management committee are delighted with the achievements of staff throughout the last year, and hope that we have been able to reassure tenants that we can support them in their tenancy throughout this difficult period. I am also delighted that the Scottish Government has recognised the role of community-based organisations like Ruchazie during this challenging time.”