JENNY GILRUTH MSP WELCOMES LOTTERY FUNDING FOR FIFE GINGERBREAD

Published date : 13 Apr 2018

Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP, Jenny Gilruth, has hailed news that Fife Gingerbread has been awarded £299,823 from the Big Lottery Fund Scotland.

The funding will allow the charity to further develop a network of trained and approved Volunteers and Volunteer Buddies throughout Fife to support some of the most vulnerable families and children in the communities.

The funding will see the employment of three new Volunteer Coordinators meaning Fife Gingerbread can develop volunteers in all areas of Fife, training at least an additional 90 local people to become buddy volunteers.

The local MSP has worked closely with the charity since her election in 2016, most recently holding a Parliamentary reception in Holyrood to celebrate Fife Gingerbread’s 30th anniversary.

Now, Ms Gilruth has lodged a motion to the Scottish Parliament to celebrate the charity’s sizeable funding grant. (A copy of the motion is noted at the foot of this email).

Commenting, the MSP said:

“Fife Gingerbread provides a crucial lifeline for lone parent, vulnerable and disadvantaged families across the Kingdom. The support that the charity offers helps parents in need overcome barriers from poverty to mental health.

“It is great news that this substantial funding grant will provide employment for three new staff and train at least 90 others, allowing Fife Gingerbread to reach out and provide to even more families in need.

“It is a sad fact that charities, like Fife Gingerbread, have become essential to the livelihoods of so many families, as almost 1 in 3 children in Levenmouth today live in poverty thanks to heartless Tory welfare cuts.

“While the Scottish Government will continue to do all it can to fight rising child poverty, I fear that the UK Government’s shameless programme of benefit cuts will continue to push more low income families into poverty.”

Rhona Cunningham, CEO of Fife Gingerbread, said:

“Volunteers really are the backbone of the organisation, without them we couldn’t deliver our great support to families. Volunteering is a great means of progression; parents gain confidence and learn skills that they will use in the home and in life. Being able to now offer this across Fife thanks to Big Lottery funding is fantastic.”

ENDS

NOTES:

Motion Number: S5M-11611

Lodged By: Jenny Gilruth

Date Lodged: 13/04/2018

Title: Fife Gingerbread Secures Big Lottery Funding

Motion Text:

That the Parliament congratulates Fife Gingerbread, which is based in Leven, on securing £299,823 from the Big Lottery Fund Scotland; understands that the group will use this much needed funding to develop a network of trained and approved volunteer buddys throughout Fife to support some of the most vulnerable families and children in their communities; acknowledges that Fife Gingerbread will create a Fife-wide volunteer network and recruit local volunteers within the organisation to meet the high demand for those accessing its support services, and wishes Fife Gingerbread every success for the future.

Local Reporters, East Fife Mail, Glenrothes Gazette, Courier (Fife), MOTIONS, CHARITIES, LOCAL BUSINESS, AWARDS