FINANCIAL SUPPORT GRANTS

We support low-income households, or households who are living in extreme poverty, through our support services. We geographically provide support across all of Aberdeen City and support individuals, couples and families.

Aberdeen, like many other major cities across the UK, has high areas of high depravation due to low-income households and social inequalities. £7,500 IN GRANTS TO PEOPLE

Every day, across Aberdeen, people are living in extreme poverty and have to make difficult choices. Choices such as:

• Can I afford to put the gas and electricity on for hot water and heating?

• Can I afford to give my children a hot meal?

• Do I pay my rent/mortgage for the month, or do I buy the bedding and clothing my child needs to be warm?

Financial wellness is as important as our physical and mental wellbeing. If you are struggling financially to cover your needs, then help is available.

When you are living in poverty, it can be an immensely stressful and worrying time when you experience money problems. Last year we distributed £7,500 in grants to people living in poverty across the city; this went to help people buy food, white household goods, heat their home and provide warm winter clothing.

“Thank you so much to VSA for your support. Your food parcel, fuel poverty grant and funding to get an iPad mean so much to me. You always listen to me and give me so much advice. I’d be lost without you.”

- Unpaid Carer

VSA FUEL FUND

For decades, VSA has helped generations of Aberdonians heat their homes. Long gone are the days of when the VSA ‘Coal Man’ would drop off coal parcels to households living in poverty across the city; but we are still here to help provide support when you need our help.

Across Aberdeen 23% of households are living in fuel poverty. This means people are struggling to afford the cost of gas and electricity; the reality of this means having to make choices that many of us take for granted. Choices such as having hot water for personal hygiene, gas for cooking, or having enough money for food. The ongoing pandemic saw demand for our fuel poverty grants soar. Many people, as a result of losing their jobs, are struggling to cover the cost of their bills.

VSA emergency fuel poverty grants offer a lifeline to many families and carers across the city.

We are thankful to the Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust which provided funding to enable us to provide more grants to families who need our help.