Buckie Community Hub hails five-figure boost to cost of living scheme
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BUCKIE Community Hub has been handed a five-figure boost to help it battle the effects of the cost of living crisis locally.
The facility, which was created by Buckie Area Forum (BAF), has been awarded a grant from the National Lottery's Community Fund to the tune of £13,580 to help provide food and energy vouchers, mobile data packs, food flasks, hot water bottles, torches and fleece throws. The grant will also help pay for a part-time cleaner.
The hub also serves as a warm bank and as a host site for a variety of partner agencies to hold drop-in sessions.
BAF chairman Gordon McDonald said that demand for help to battle cost of living crisis issues had not diminished since the Hub first opened its doors last November and, if anything, was shaping up to get worse.
He said: "It's clear that the cost of living crisis is going to be around for quite a bit, certainly on into next winter.
"Inflation is still running above 10 per cent and it's built in to a lot of food and energy charges. This biting into a lot of people's savings, if they have any.
"We thought things would quieten down in the spring and summer but we've more people coming through the door than ever.
"These are people who have a range of issues, not all of which are connected to the cost of living crisis.
"As a result, the Hub needs to be in a strong position to help people, not just over the summer but on into the winter. There are indications that next winter could be even worse than the last one, and that was bad enough for a lot of people.
"As we get this cost of living package up and running we'll be looking to get a system in place working on referrals and also to deal with people coming through the door needing help. We'll be running this on a last resort basis to help people when other agencies aren't able to.
"The energy vouchers will be of an amount that will tide people over until they can sort things out.
"It's gratifying that the National Lottery Community Fund appreciates the work we're doing here at the Hub. We're all volunteers and receive no funds from public agencies."
The Hub is situated at 17 East Church Street in Buckie and is open at the following times: Monday/Wednesday/Friday – 10am-4pm; Tuesday – 10am-4pm, 6pm-8pm.
For more information on the work of the Hub and the services it offers, visit its Facebook page.
