Welfare fund helps 2,200 in Renfrewshire

The Scottish Welfare Fund made 2,265 payments to people in Renfrewshire in the last financial year, new figures show.

That’s an increase of six per cent compared to the same period last year.

A total of 2,265 Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants were awarded in Renfrewshire between April and June 2019 to help people with essentials such as food, heating costs, and household items.

The Scottish Government introduced the Scottish Welfare Fund in 2013 as part of a £125 million annual package to mitigate the impact of what it describes as“UK government austerity”.

Since its launch in April 2013, the fund has paid out more than £200 million to support over 336,000 households across Scotland, with a third of recipients being families with children.

Renfrewshire South MSP Tom Arthur said: “The Scottish Welfare Fund is a vital lifeline for many people facing poverty or personal crisis.

“The fact that so many households in Renfrewshire are in need of emergency financial help is appalling, and a sad indictment of the UK Government’s record on austerity and welfare cuts.

“The Scottish Welfare Fund is an important example of the kind of action the Scottish Government has taken using the powers it currently has to try and mitigate Westminster’s welfare cuts.

“However, we would prefer that these resources were invested directly to tackle poverty head-on, rather than protecting people from Tory austerity.“