The Fairer Aberdeen Fund Annual Report for 2024/2025 was presented at the council’s Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee and detailed how the fund had supported 52,120 people across the year.

Chair of the Fairer Aberdeen Fund Board, Councillor Alex McLellan, said: “The Fairer Aberdeen Fund has enabled a variety of community groups and charities to deliver meaningful change for people across Aberdeen.

“The support provided by these organisations is more vital than ever, as people in our city continue to face the challenges of the continuing cost-of-living crisis. We remain committed to tackling poverty and providing real-life solutions to those most in need.”

The funding supports the third sector to deliver services and to work in partnership with statutory services to address poverty. It provides for adults and young people, to support people into work, to maximise incomes, to promote better mental health and wellbeing, support for vulnerable families and young people, and to build stronger, safer communities.

Funding was awarded to 36 projects within the main programme, as well as a Community Support Fund to support community engagement, and an Employment Support Fund to support costs associated with getting people back into work.

Of the 52,120 people supported, 5,602 of them were under 16 years old. 96% of people supported were affected by poverty; living in low income households or in the most deprived areas. 752 volunteers contributed 137,210 hours of volunteering time with a value of £2.3m.

Five Community Flats/Projects were funded in priority areas of Cummings Park, Middlefield, Printfield, Seaton and Tillydrone, providing youth work, adult learning, support and advice, addressing isolation and promoting social inclusion.

Fay Morrison, community board member from Torry, said: “It’s great to see the impact the Fairer Aberdeen Fund is having.  As community members on the Fairer Aberdeen Board, we take our position very seriously and are privileged to support so many third sector and community organisations who are making a real difference in priority neighbourhoods and supporting the most vulnerable in the city.

“We are particularly proud of how many local people provide their time to volunteer to help others in their communities, they add huge benefits to the value of the Fund.”

In the 2024-25 round of allocations, funded organisations also achieved:

• 227 people into work and 806 people involved in employability programmes
• 5,566 people receiving money advice
• £2m client financial gain, an average of £1,350 per person
• 562 tonnes of free food were distributed, the equivalent of 1.34 million meals
• 47,266 emergency food parcels were provided and 1,251 food bank users were referred to other services for support.