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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Kathryn Anderson

High demand for warm homes packs and warm spaces in Perth and Kinross sees funding topped up

Demand for winter warm homes packs and warm spaces has exceeded expectations.

An additional £100,000 of council funding has been agreed after the initial £320,000 for local projects quickly ran out.

Perth and Kinross Council's Finance and Resources Committee unanimously approved the extra support when it met on Wednesday, November 30.

The council's chief accountant told the gathered councillors £320,000 had been "fully allocated to the warm packs and warm spaces".

He added: "We are seeking to top that up by £100,000 because of the demand that has come in from communities for this funding."

In September Perth and Kinross Council agreed £170,000 would be given to community groups/organisations to buy and distribute warm home packs as well as food and £150,000 to organisations providing warm spaces for the public.

The warm homes packs include the likes of blankets, hot water bottles, thermos flasks and slow cookers.

Slow cookers use a lot less electricity than ovens (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Depute director of Communities Clare Mailer told councillors: "The response to the initial funding was extremely positive and very quickly community groups stepped forward and we have got cosy spaces stepped up almost with immediate effect.

"The funding has now run out. We had a number of bids in."

She said the additional funds - following approval - would be made "immediately available".

Conservative Carse of Gowrie councillor Angus Forbes sought clarity on "how many people on the ground" were actually being helped.

While exact figures were not available, he was told work would be done to try and provide support across the whole of Perth and Kinross and avoid duplication.

SNP council leader and vice-convener of the committee Grant Laing said: "Demand is coming in all the time. We're trying to fill the demand as it's coming in.

"Moving forward we have to get mapping done of where all the warm spaces, etc are so as we are not overlapping and we'll have numbers of people attending in each area because we want to provide a local authority-wide service.

"At the moment it's charitable organisations that are coming forward and willing to work and take these projects forward."

He explained this is what brought about the "immediacy" of the need for additional funding but agreed: "We have to check the efficacy of the whole project going forward and make sure we're not having duplication."

Cllr Laing said there was "no point" in two warm spaces being open on the same day in the same area when they could open as a warm space on alternate days.

Ms Mailer added: "We will be monitoring usage and impact and the mapping activity will be undertaken so we can clearly identify areas where there might be some gaps in provision and also where there may be areas of duplication.

"Communities are working together very well."

Citing Letham in Perth as an example, she said: "Community groups in Letham are ensuring there is provision available almost every day of the week so they're coordinating with each other."

Highland Perthshire Conservative councillor John Duff added: "I visited one of the local warm spaces in Aberfeldy and it was certainly well attended.

"And it wasn't just about tea and biscuits being offered. There was help and information being offered to the many elderly people who were attending."

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