Council Grant To Tackle Poverty

Deprivation in North East Fife is being tackled with a grant from Fife Council.

The funding of £178,415, announced by the North East area committee, will help bring services like job clubs to rural areas. Recent figures show Fife has some of the highest levels of deprivation in the UK, with child poverty in North East Fife at around 25%, according to the latest figures.

1 in 6 working-age adults in Fife claims benefits.

The focus for the Welfare Reform Action Plan in North East Fife has been on taking the services and support to those who need them rather than expecting residents living in rural areas to travel to the main centres to access assistance. CARF staff have been attending local job clubs to offer advice and Fife Voluntary Action has run sessions on the benefits of volunteering to assist with gaining employment.

Councillor Frances Melville, Chair of the North East Fife Area Committee said:

"This funding will be greatly welcomed by those working with people in North East Fife who are affected by welfare reform and those in a crisis situation. It will help to make services more accessible and key to the continuing success of the Plan is that all partners continue to work together to make sure that it has the most benefit for those using the services."