The Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card will see people across the city pull together by helping residents struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and businesses battling back from the coronavirus pandemic.

Glasgow City Council is preparing to send cards worth £105 each to 85,000 low-income households, powering a multi-million pound injection into the economy.

The gift cards can only be spent with businesses registered to accept them within the authority’s boundaries, meaning money is locked into the local economy for longer.

More than 700 businesses have so far signed up to take the cards as payment, with that number steadily growing as word about the council’s boost for the scheme spreads.

Letters will soon be sent to eligible households advising them what they need to do when their gift card arrives. These letters MUST be kept safe, pending receipt of the gift card itself, as they include unique details about the card activation process.

Glasgow City Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Ricky Bell, is urging people to keep a close eye on their mail, and for businesses to ensure they are registered to the gift card scheme so they too can benefit from the initiative.

He said: “The Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card is a highly practical way to assist households struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, whilst also supporting local businesses as they recover from the pandemic.

“We want high streets across all of Glasgow’s communities to benefit from the scheme so please make sure that your business is registered so that people can start spending with you as soon as they receive their card.”

Shawlands greengrocers’ shop Stalks & Stems is among those which has signed up to the gift card scheme.

Owner Ali Haider, who has been in business for more than 20 years, said: “The Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card is a great idea. It will help local people who then help local businesses.

“We need new initiatives like this all of the time to keep things fresh and to continue encouraging people to shop locally. The more people who shop locally, the better it is for everyone.”

Funding for the council disbursement project has come via a £9.45m Covid Economic Recovery Funding package awarded to the authority by the Scottish Government.

Glasgow Times:

 Scotland Love Local Glasgow Gift Card: At a glance

  • The Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card is an extension of the Scotland Loves Local campaign, which is spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership and supported by the Scottish Government. It encourages people to think local first and support businesses in their community.
  • The gift card is essentially a form of local currency, allowing people to spend with their favourite businesses - from household essentials to family treats - in a way that keeps spending local for longer. They are available for anyone to buy.
  • Glasgow City Council is using the card to channel financial support to 85,000 lower income homes - a step which ensures that money is reinvested in the local economy.
  • Those cards will be sent to households which were in receipt of Council Tax Reduction as of June 1, 2022. They will be sent to the council tax account holder.
  • Eligible households will soon receive a letter sharing details about how to use their card. This includes a unique activation code which must be kept for when the gift cards arrive. If you receive a letter, please do not throw it away. Keep it in a safe place.
  • Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Cards will arrive with eligible households in mid-August.

To find out more information

Go to www.glasgow.gov.uk/loveslocal