Free school bags for 1000 kids
MORE than 1000 free school bags will be handed out to children living in poverty tomorrow.
The Back to School Bash, which is being backed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, will help youngsters from four primary schools in one of Glasgow’s most deprived areas.
It is hoped the bags, which contain stationery and other school essentials, will alleviate the cost of youngsters returning to school after the summer holidays for cashstrapped local parents.
Elyse MacKinnon has helped to raise more than £8000 to fund each bag, which will be given out at the Glasgow Elim Church in Govanhill at 11am.
She said: “More than 30 per cent of kids in Govanhill are living in poverty and the response from the local community has been incredible. Each bag will go to a child who really needs it.”
Nicola Sturgeon, who is MSP for the area, will also attend the event. She said: “This is a great local initiative to help ensure youngsters look forward to going back to school.
“Primary schools in Govanhill are doing amazing work and I was delighted that a local school – Annette Street Primary – recently won a national award in the 2018 Reading Challenge for schools.” BY AMANDA KEENAN THE number of Scots children relying on food banks to survive has soared as povertystricken families struggle to cope with welfare cuts.
The Trussell Trust have reported a 20 per cent increase in the number of food packages they were handing out between summer 2016 and 2017, and warn this summer is likely to be the busiest on record for food banks in Scotland.
From May to June 2016, the number of three-day emergency food packages given out by the Trussell Trust’s network was 23,307 – including 7201 to children.
Between May and June 2017, children were the recipients of 8505 packages from a total of 27,247 issued. Data for 2017-18 shows that benefit delays and sanctions remain the biggest reason for people being referred to food banks.
The figures have come as no surprise to those actively involved in running the food banks, who told the Daily Record that the number of children needing help is constantly on the rise. Audrey Flannagan has managed the Glasgow south-east food bank for six