Over the past 10 years, Wheatley Foundation has supported thousands of people across Scotland to manage their money, access essentials, and build better futures.

A key focus has been helping customers maximise their income and reduce financial pressure, with more than £127m secured through advice, support and practical help.

The Foundation has also helped people set up and sustain their homes, delivering more than 27,800 items of furniture, white goods and electrical appliances, while diverting over 900 tonnes of waste from landfill.

Support to tackle poverty and hardship has been central to its work, having provided tens of thousands of food parcels and emergency vouchers, alongside ongoing access to community food services for local people.

It has also invested in opportunities for the future, supporting almost 8000 jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities, and providing hundreds of bursaries to help people into college and university.

Professor Paddy Gray, chairperson for Wheatley Foundation, said: “This milestone is a proud moment for us. Over the past 10 years, we have grown from a bold idea into a vital source of support for tens of thousands of people and communities.

“What stands out most is the real, lasting difference the Foundation has made, from helping families maximise their income, to ensuring people have the essentials they need to build a home and a future.

“As we look ahead, our commitment remains in tackling poverty, reducing inequality and supporting our customers and communities to thrive.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Foundation stepped up to support communities at a time of urgent need.

In 2020/21 alone, the team delivered 33,000 food parcels and vouchers, supported more than 6700 households through its Emergency Response Fund, and provided supermarket vouchers to thousands of children and young people over the festive period.

Children and young people have also been at the heart of the Foundation’s work throughout the last decade, with more than 3000 supported every year through a range of programmes. Since 2016, 50,000 free books have been delivered to children in Wheatley homes.

The Foundation is helping build more sustainable communities, with 2500 people taking part in ‘greener communities’ initiatives since 2023, and hundreds of refurbished digital devices distributed to help people get online.

The Scottish Housing News Charity Spotlight feature highlights the vital work of charities across Scotland each Friday. To include your local charity, whether housing-related or not, send your story and images to us at newsdesk@scottishnews.com.