The social housing provider has been awarded £96,000 by the Scottish Government to ensure essential services are available to vulnerable people and those isolated or shielding.

This includes the provision of food and medicines as well as wellbeing support and activity packs for children who are unable to attend school.

The grant is part of the £350 million Supporting Communities Fund which is being managed by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations to assist in the country’s COVID-19 response effort.

Sanctuary Scotland, which manages more than 7,000 homes, will work with its partner organisations to support communities in Aberdeenshire, Dundee, Glasgow, Cumbernauld and Renfrewshire.

Among these are the Salvation Army, Trussell Trust, Ardler Village Trust, The Pyramid at Anderston, Cumbernauld Action on Care for the Elderly (CACE), Donside SCIO and the Cumbernauld Resilience Group.

Anthony Morrow, community development officer, said: “Together with our partners, we work with some of those most affected by the pandemic, for whom essentials such as food or even a friendly face to talk to are not a given.

“This grant will make such an important difference to the lives of many people at this challenging time and we are delighted that it has been awarded to us.”

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