Dundee City Council announces £880k winter funding for those in need

Dundee City Council has announced hundreds of thousands of pounds of additional funding is being used to help struggling locals this winter.

Flexible funding of £886,000 has been allocated until March 2022 to support residents wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The funding includes a £50,000 grant for the Mission Christmas Toy Appeal, which aims to give 1000 gifts to local children and young people in need.

One-off payments will go to thousands of households in receipt of Council Tax Reduction, while targeted fuel support totalling just over £300,000 will be provided to vulnerable people across Dundee.

A further £170,000 will be awarded to the Scottish Welfare Fund, in a bid to meet recognizable needs such as adult winter clothing.

Councillor John Alexander, leader of Dundee city council, said: “We know there are people out there who are really struggling.

“You only have to look at the recent launch of the second Fuel Well Dundee scheme to see there are thousands finding it difficult to pay for essentials such as lighting and heating.

“Increasing bills for utilities and the rising cost of living generally is only one aspect of the many concurrent pressures impacting on people, alongside the loss of key pandemic supports such as the Universal Credit uplift and furlough scheme.

“It’s a perfect storm which is causing misery and anxiety for households across the city, impacting on young and old, and this support will help to alleviate that.”