Groups share £264k of lifeline cash
Linstone Housing has distributed a cash lifeline of £264,500 to help Renfrewshire battle the coronavirus pandemic.
The housing association was tasked with issuing the money to scores of groups after being designated a“community anchor organisation”by the Scottish Government.
The role was to forward money from the government’s Supporting Communities Fund – set up to combat the chaos inflicted by Covid-19.
Adele Fraser, chief executive of Linstone, said: “The last six months have undoubtedly been the most challenging many of us have ever lived through.
“Linstone is proud to have played our part in distributing the Scottish Government funding and, with our strong local connections, we were ideally placed to carry it out.
A total of 49 Renfrewshire organisations received funding and 25 per cent of it went to support emergency food supplies.
Over £50,000 went to groups to establish their own emergency funds to pay for energy top-ups, bills and issuing tablet devices to assist home schooling.
More than £26,000 has gone to groups to ensure those they help keep active and £32,000 went to creative-related activities, including music lessons for young people.
And £26,000 went to Renfrewshire’s“most inspiring”charities and £5,750 was spent on the production of face masks and other personal protection equipment.
In addition, £3,800 was used to provide “activity packs”for shielding old folk.
Groups that got the cash included Paisley FM, Create Paisley, Loud N Proud, Music Broth, Renfrew YMCA, Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, St Mirren Football Foundation, Recovery Across Mental Health and Erskine Community Action.
Lewis Nesbitt, chairman of Spateston Tenants and Residents Association in Johnstone, said:“We invested in outdoor play equipment ,such as basketball stands, goals and archery sets, to keep kids happy all summer long.
“It also protected parents from financial harm when their income may have already been slashed.”