The SNP has welcomed news that a North Ayrshire Council led consortium has been granted a major £3 million award from the Big Lottery Fund/European Social Funds Financial Inclusion programme.
The secured funds will allow the council and various third sector partners from across North Ayrshire to fund various initiatives from 2017-2020, including moves to tackle debt and fuel poverty, and to provide for better financial services, such as more affordable credit and products, basic banking services, money management skills, and improved IT and digital skills to manage money online.
Councillor Alan Hill, the SNP group's shadow finances spokesperson on North Ayrshire Council, said: “This is excellent news for North Ayrshire and for all of those in the consortium who have put so much time and effort into securing this much needed award. When in administration, it was the SNP led cabinet that first moved to tender for such funding from the Big Lottery Fund in 2015, the aim of which was to try to raise additional income for some of our most deprived communities.
"For over a year we worked hard to develop a working bid, called Better Off North Ayrshire, with various key local partners across the constituency, such as Ayrshire North Community Housing Organisation (ANCHO), the Community Led Action and Support Project (CLASP), North Ayrshire Citizens Advice Bureau, Cunninghame Housing Association, CHAP, Alliance Credit Union and Centre Stage.
“I am truly delighted that our collective hard work has been so successful, as these funds will help more than three thousand people across North Ayrshire over the next three years, allowing our partners to better address a range of key issues through a much more co-ordinated and cost effective approach. As this demonstrates, the SNP will leave no stone unturned when trying to provide for the needs of our community. Should we be returned into administration in May we will look forward to continuing to work with our partners over the next three years to implement the many exciting opportunities that this funding will now facilitate.”
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