£650,000 EMERGENCY COVID SUPPORT FOR LOCAL CHARITIES

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South Scotland MSP Joan McAlpine has welcomed news that 35 charities in Dumfries and Galloway have now been awarded emergency COVID grants from the Scottish Government’s Third Sector Resilience Fund. An additional 30 organisations in the Borders have also received grants.

The groups, which include Soul Soup, a mental health charity in Dumfries, Moniaive Playcare and Visit South West Scotland Co-operative Ltd have shared a pot of £675,000 which was distributed across the two regions.

The announcement was made last week by the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Aileen Campbell MSP. She was responding to a question from Ms McAlpine during a virtual Portfolio Questions session last week.

Commenting Ms McAlpine said,

“I was pleased to hear from the communities minister that so many third sector organisations in Dumfries and Galloway have been awarded grants from the Scottish Government’s Third Sector Resilience Fund. This money is a lifeline for these groups and means vital local jobs are protected.

“This £20m fund has already distributed grants to 1200 vulnerable organisations across Scotland, protecting 12,500 jobs.

“ I also raised the plight of another local charity, Annan Athletic with the minister – they were recently turned down by the fund. Ms Campbell reassured me that her officials will be in touch with the club right away to look at ways of helping them access emergency support.”