The main distributor of lottery cash to charities in Scotland is to launch a new £10 million fund to help alleviate domestic poverty.
The Support and Connect Fund is being billed as the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland's response to a rising demand for emergency aid to help those facing extreme difficulty in feeding themselves or their families or buying essential goods.
It is expected to help meet Scotland's growing need for local food banks, money advice services, community clothing and starter pack projects.
The fund, which opens for applications on Thursday, is aimed at organisations working in deprived communities to support those in need and also those working with people facing complex problems to help them find longer term solutions.
Writing in The Herald today, Big director Jackie Killeen highlights the Growing Up in Scotland report, which showed that many families are worse off than they were in 2005/6 and one-quarter of families with young children are living on an income of less than £11,000 a year.
She claims Big has had funding requests for soup kitchens, breakfast clubs and for help to buy white goods and clothes. The new fund aims to ensure fewer people fall through the gaps and that the help on offer is better co-ordinated.
Ms Killeen says the fund plans to improve support and ensure people get all the help they need.
Applications for the fast-track fund open on Thursday and close on Monday, May 13, with applications for a further round of funding due in by September 6.
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