Trussell Trust’s housing group link-up

Hillcrest employees donating to foodbank charity shows strong bond between the two organisations

Dundee West MP Chris Law spoke in the House of Commons on Wednesday, highlighting the increased use of foodbanks in the city.

This comes as the Trussell Trust announced an initiative with Hillcrest Housing Association that will give employees there the opportunity to donate to the foodbank directly from their salary.

Ewan Gurr, Scotland network manager for the Trussell Trust, said: “The Trussell Trust is delighted to be working with Hillcrest Housing Association to help hungry households.

“This Friday, the Hillcrest Group will be holding its group staff conference bringing together 250 employees from across Scotland.

“During the keynote session by Hillcrest Group chief executive Angela Linton, there will be information about a payroll giving scheme that will be used to offer support to Scottish foodbanks, who offer a short-term intervention that brings long-term transformation to individuals and families by enabling them to put food on the table and overcome the underlying crisis they experience.

“Having worked with Hillcrest Housing Association for over a decade on a professional level and also been a former tenant on a personal level, I know that there is a charitable ethos that underpins the work they do.

“Their wrap-around care, in areas of money management and tenancy sustainment, goes beyond simply offering a secure environment in which to raise a family and speaks not of just another housing association but of ordinary people who go the extra mile for their tenants.

“For Hillcrest Housing Association to be looking and considering new ways to support hungry households locally and nationally is an inspiration and I hope others will follow their lead.”

The two organisations have worked closely together in the past and understand the requirements each has of each other.

Joy Watson, tenant services manager for Hillcrest Housing Association, said that Hillcrest has had a long relationship with the foodbank group and that the partnership between them was strong.

Employees at the housing association have organised events, collecting canned foods and toiletries over the years and have been involved in fundraising initiatives for the foodbank.

Mr Gurr pointed out that the reciprocal relationship between the two groups was important in order to lower the number of people who are using foodbanks in the city.

He said: “We will work with people who need help right up until the point where we no longer need to be involved, but if it wasn’t for organisations like Hillcrest, people would not be able to get the help and support they need.

“The foodbank is for short-term crisis intervention and groups like Hillcrest are part of the long-term transformation that is required.

“In the same way that organisations like Hillcrest will refer people to us, we will also refer people we see to them.

“Giving a person a food package is not going to resolve the reasons why that person has come to us.

“That is why we work closely with Hillcrest, so that the problems these people are facing stop recurring.”

Foodbank use in Dundee has increased by 18.5% since 2014, with a total of 8,354 people requiring the service.

The foodbank is for shorttermcrisis intervention and groups like Hillcrest are part of the longterm transformation that is required. EWAN GURR

Picture: Dougie Nicolson. Ian Esson, Trussell Trust Scotland partnership coordinator, with Joy Watson, tenants services manager at Hillcrest, in Dundee.