POSTED ON DECEMBER 16 2020 AT 10:55
Includem are delighted to announce that the donation was made as part of Barclays 100 x100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Fund which was set up to support charities across the UK in their efforts to combat the current pandemic.
The Barclays donation will provide 275 young people and families across Scotland with food, clothing, utility support, digital access, basic white goods and furniture and, support to both their physical and mental health – areas of need highlighted in our recent Poverty and the Impact of Coronavirus on Young People and Families in Scotland report.
Our own research found that 49% of the families we work with struggle to put food on the table on a regular basis. For families living on social security this figure rises dramatically to 60%. We were also alarmed to find that given the current dependence on digital access, 47% of our families reported having regular issues with being able to afford accessing the internet. This donation will be a welcome lifeline for the children, young people and families we support.
Our Chief Executive, Martin Dorchester, said of the donation: “On behalf of includem, I would like to thank Barclays for this generous donation. The donation we have received today will be used to support vulnerable children, young people and families across Scotland who are struggling to cope because of COVID-19.”