Urgent plea to Scottish Government amid warning that funding to feed Edinburgh's most vulnerable citizens runs out on Monday

Voluntary groups deliver 27,000 meals a week

Volunteers packing food parcels at Craigroyston High School for distribution around the city.

URGENT pleas for cash are being made to the Scottish Government amid warnings the money it gives to feed Edinburgh’s most vulnerable citizens will run out on Monday.

The city council has already had to step in with emergency funding to ensure the 27,000 meals a week continued to be delivered over the last fortnight.

But with no word yet on any further financial support from the government, the voluntary groups who prepare and deliver the meals have asked the city’s MSPs to press ministers for immediate action.

Emergency food parcels for vulnerable families

Ella Simpson, chief executive of Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC), said existing funds would dry up on Monday.

She said: “From the beginning of this pandemic, local organisations stepped up to support the most vulnerable and now we’re having the rug pulled out from beneath our feet.”

The Capital received £1.65 million from the Scottish Government’s Food Fund to provide for families who would normally get free school meals and vulnerable people contacting the national help line.

Thirty organisations, including older people’s day care centres, community transport operators, youth organisations and community groups, have worked together across the city to deliver the much-needed meals.

The need for food is expected to grow as more people have to self-isolate

Ms Simpson said: “We are worried about leaving vulnerable people without food. The lack of action from Scottish Government is desperately short-sighted and risks leaving organisations on a cliff edge with no clarity about how they might continue to offer this critical support.”

She said community organisations had used their own money to fund meals for vulnerable people for five or six weeks before the government scheme launched.

“They did an amazing job, but there’s only so long you can have those kind of resources when you’re a small community-based organisation.”

She said the Test and Protect programme risked increasing the need as more people have to self-isolate.

She said: “This is poverty at its most acute. I don’t have to wonder what someone is bringing to my door today so I can eat.

“A lot of people who were on zero-hour contracts have lost their jobs and are having to deal with the benefits system, waiting eight, ten, 12 weeks to get any benefit and they don’t have the resources to keep them going in the meantime.”

Lothian Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said the government had to give the Edinburgh food fund an emergency cash injection.

She said: “This situation is absolutely unacceptable. Many of Edinburgh’s food banks and community support groups are already struggling to stay operational. With the food fund due to run out on Monday, we run the very real risk of seeing those who should be shielding putting themselves in jeopardy by leaving the house to visit the shops. Others who have lost their income will lose vital access to proper food.

“Edinburgh already has over 20,000 children living in food poverty with struggling families facing the prospect of summer months without free school meals.

This situation cannot continue. Nicola Sturgeon only this week agreed with me that everyone must have a right to proper food. The Scottish Government must now put their money where their mouth is and make sure it happens as a matter of urgency.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We recognise the Food Fund has provided crucial support to families – including direct payments for over 10,000 children in Edinburgh during this pandemic.

“Ministers are currently considering what additional resource may be needed to support families over the summer holiday period.”

He said the government recognised the pressures councils were under and the flexibility they needed during the crisis and £155m of UK Government funding had been passed on to councils in addition to £50m hardship funding through a communities funding package.

“The Scottish Government has also brought forward £455 million of grant payments to help alleviate local authorities’ potential cash flow problems. We are keeping this situation under review and will take further action if it proves necessary.”