SAT - Allover - Chris Morphet
Thursday 5 December 2024
 8.1°C   SSW Gentle Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

Coronavirus / SIC secures funding to help families access food

OVER £100,000 is coming Shetland Islands Council’s way to support families during the coronavirus pandemic who usually receive free school meals or clothing grants.

The money is coming from the Scottish Government and it will be used to make regular payments to families for them to put towards buying food.

The council put the payment system in place in mid-March when schools closed for families in receipt of free school meals or clothing grants.

In early May the payment was increased from £2.50 a day to £3 a day in recognition of the increased cost of living in Shetland.

Chairman of the council’s education and families committee councillor George Smith said: “These are unprecedented times, and some families will be facing significant challenges, so we’d ask anyone who finds themselves struggling to get in touch.

“The council, along with third sector organisations and community groups are all working together to make sure that a range of support is available to anyone who needs it.

“There’s already an increase in the number of people coming forward to request support, some who have never been in that position before, and it is important to reiterate that there is no shame in seeking help, and that our services are here to support you in any way possible.”

A range of support is available for anyone who finds themselves struggling to access food during the pandemic, either because they are unable to travel to the shops or due to financial difficulties.

The Shetland Coronavirus Hub can support anyone who is vulnerable as the result of the pandemic, and it can arrange a wide range of support, including emergency food parcels, shopping by volunteers, information about local food shops and delivery, and access to foodbanks if required.

The local Citizens Advice Bureau can also provide advice on financial concerns, including access to benefits and grants, debt and energy advice.

Anyone who is in need of support should contact Shetland Coronavirus Hub on 0800 030 8780 or email covid19support@shetland.gov.uk.

Become a member of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -

  • Remove non-local ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.

 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Have you considered becoming a member of Shetland News?

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please consider paying for membership and get the following features and services: -

  • Remove non-local ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.