Work to support hard-pressed Castle Douglas families affected by the cost of living crisis has received a cash boost.
Castle Douglas Development Forum (CDDF) has been awarded £15,709 by the National Lottery Community Fund to extend vital services amid growing economic woes.
The money will allow the organisation to increase its foodbank opening hours and provide warm hubs, breakfast and lunch clubs and warm cafe sessions for those in the community.
CDDF chairperson Carolyn Yates said the much-needed windfall had come just at the right time.
She said: “We are really delighted to hear this news.
“The award means we can extend the support we can give to people in these difficult economic times.
“It’s not all about handouts – it’s about community networking and people meeting up with each other in convivial surroundings, reaching out and supporting each other.”
The grant was announced as CDDF prepares to move its Castle Douglas Stepping Stones foodbank operation from 198 King Street to a location nearby.
The social enterprise is currently open for collections of food parcels only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 12pm – hours which can now be increased,
CDDF communications officer Beth McKee, who is in charge of evaluating the impact on people of the forum’s community support schemes, also welcomed the new cash.
She said: “This will allow us to do more things such as breakfast clubs, lunch clubs and cafe sessions.
“We are trying to get more cafes in the town involved so younger people on lower incomes can come in, meet up and learn basic cookery skills.
“The funding will also allows us to hire an additional assistant manager for the food bank.”
In Wigtownshire, The Furniture Project (Stranraer) Ltd was awarded £12,000 to extend its work to provide household items to people affected by the cost-of-living crisis.
