New cash boost to help Linstone tenants

Linstone Housing is celebrating a new funding boost which it said will help it to carry on the fight against coronavirus.

Linstone’s local communities will benefit after the housing association was awarded almost £19,000.

The money has come from the Communities Recovery Fund, set by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO).

Since March, Linstone has been helping to minimise the effects of the pandemic. Now, the additional money, totalling £18,753, which a Linstone spokesperson described as “really welcomed for the benefit of the local people”, will allow it to fund its Covid Response Team until March 2021.

The new funding will be spent on supporting Linstone tenants who need support over the long winter months, and the work will include:

• continuing Linstone’s work to help tenants who lack confidence on IT issues to ensure they do not become more isolated. The aim will be to build skills on using the internet to encourage family communication, shopping and, generally, increasing confidence and wellbeing
• in common with other housing associations, Linstone’s Community Hubs remain closed. Emphasis will be placed on socially distanced outdoor activities, and, over the winter, street events and film screenings, which tenants will be able to participate in from their homes
• check-in telephone calls will carry on for people identified as at risk. Linstone staff will call its tenants to establish their wellbeing, and, where necessary, contact organisations which provide support such as food parcels and employment support.

Adele Fraser, Chief Executive of Linstone Housing, said: “This is more great news, and it allows us to continue the work we are doing to limit the unprecedented upheaval caused by the pandemic.

“We are extremely grateful for the funding from SCVO which shares our vision of helping our communities. Linstone has always been of the view that the effects of the health emergency will be felt for some time to come.

“This additional funding, which we will put to good use, extends our ability to carry on helping – something that will, undoubtedly, be welcomed by our tenants.”  

Earlier this year, Linstone was recognised as a community anchor organisation by the Scottish Government and tasked with distributing £264,500 of funding from its Supporting Communities Fund to local organisations and charities.