FOUNDATION Scotland has announced it has awarded nearly £1.5 million in crisis support to communities in Glasgow and the west of Scotland.

The cash has come from its dedicated Response, Recovery and Resilience Fund - and now it is urging other eligible groups to apply.

Launched in March, Foundation Scotland’s crisis fund was the first source of community funding to open as the coronavirus pandemic hit the country.

Working in partnership with the National Emergencies Trust, funded projects include support for those with poor or worsening mental health, those with poor access to critical services or care, those experiencing bereavement and support for organisations to safely provide vital services within the current guidelines.

To date, more than 462 local projects have received a total of £1,488,682.

Covid-19 initially had a huge impact on Glasgow-based Street Cones, a local arts and drama charity which works with people within or at risk of entering the criminal justice system.

Before the crisis hit, all of their support work was carried out exclusively face-to-face.

Restrictions then halted all on-going projects leaving around 100 isolated individuals without the necessary support which was helping them to turn their lives around.

However, £5,000 in vital funding from Foundation Scotland enabled the organisation to reassess and redesign its approach moving services on-line for the first time.

Tom Jackson, Head of Community Justice Glasgow and chairman of Street Cones, said: “Vital support from Foundation Scotland meant that we could carry on providing our life-changing essential support throughout the restrictions.

"The people we work with needed us more than ever, and we are so thrilled that we have been able to keep offering our established support groups for those that need us.

"It would’ve been a disaster to lose this successful support group and we are extremely grateful to Foundation Scotland for the support which covered our new IT hosting, equipment and sessional staff costs.”

Helen Wray, Programme Manager at Foundation Scotland said: “Street Cones is a great example of how these funds have been invested quickly to allow an organisation to redesign crucial services to ensure people in need continue to receive the support they need.”

Glasgow Times:

Foundation Scotland is eager to distribute funds quickly to communities in need and is appealing to eligible groups to apply as they respond and recover from the crisis which has both changed and increased demands on the sector’s services beyond recognition.

For more details see www.foundationscotland.org.uk