“Providing immediate relief to families who are suffering extreme hardship.”
This Challenge Poverty Week (CPW), our team at CVS Falkirk is highlighting the efforts of our local third sector and communities in tackling poverty across the Falkirk District.
Challenge Poverty Week was launched by the Poverty Alliance in 2013, as a way to draw attention to the injustice of poverty in Scotland, and show that collective action, based on justice and compassion, can create solutions. For the campaign’s 10th year, the Poverty Alliance has announced different themes for each day of the campaign week, which we believe offer the perfect opportunity to spotlight the efforts of the third sector:
- Monday 2nd October: Communities & Volunteers
- Tuesday 3rd October: Housing
- Wednesday 4th October: Adequate Incomes
- Thursday 5th October: Transport
- Friday 6th October: Food
- Saturday 7th October and Sunday 8th October: Reflection
Tuesday 3rd October: Housing
Today’s theme looks at Housing, which is defined as a human right by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Human Rights Act in the UK. Poor housing (including unsafe or unstable housing) can affect a person’s mental and physical health, their work, education, relationships and life chances.
The Poverty Alliance describes CPW as part of working towards a Scotland where we have safe, secure and sustainable homes, and many of our third sector organisations work towards this goal, both in Scotland and in Falkirk District.
Today we’re highlighting Aberlour and their Urgent Assistance Fund, which can help provide household items and other essentials for families.
How It Works
The fund provides urgent assistance for essentials items. This support is usually via cash grants to assist with a range of needs, such as food, utilities, clothing, bedding, appliance repairs, replacement of appliances that have failed, or other essentials. (They do not make awards for carpets, floor coverings or electronic devices.)
Applications must be endorsed and submitted by a sponsor, acting in their professional capacity. Eligible sponsors include social workers, health care professionals, teachers, clergy and third sector organisations. Applications from individuals cannot be accepted.
Available funds are limited and all applications will be evaluated against evidence of a family’s financial status. If a family receives an award from the Urgent Assistance Fund, they cannot re-apply for a period of one year (or in some instances up to 2 years).
Eligibility
To qualify for cash grants from the fund:
- there must be a child in the family who is 21 years old, or under
- that child must be suffering extreme hardship
- grants are made at the discretion of the Aberlour Trust
- a sponsor (detailed above) must submit a fully completed application via the Aberlour website (linked for your convenience); if applications are incomplete, they may be rejected
How to Donate
The Urgent Assistance Fund is supported by donations, which can be made via the dedicated Aberlour donation page. Any donations made go directly to families.
Further Information
For further information on the fund, including how to become a sponsor for a family, or to make a donation, please visit the Aberlour website.
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