Continued funding support for West Lothian Food Network
West Lothian Council Executive has approved a funding application which will see the West Lothian Food Network (WLFN) receive £298,679 for the period October 2022 to March 2023.
The WLFN was formed in Spring 2020 and is now composed of 46 organisations all aiming to support low income households who face food insecurity.
The distribution across the Network includes a combination of cooked food, emergency food parcels, specific foods to meet the requirements of BAME groups, and access to fresh, frozen and ambient foods as well as providing toiletries, cleaning products, baby food and pet food.
From May 2020 to the end of June 2022, the WLFN has provided a total of 3,211,008 meals (an average of seven meals per week to 4,103 people). 85% of recipients indicated they were financially at risk, on a low income and/or unemployed.
This is the latest funding support from West Lothian Council for the WLFN and its members. At its budget setting meeting on 15 February 2022, the council agreed the Revenue Budget for 2022/23 including time limited funding of £600,000 in 2022/23 to provide additional payments to the West Lothian Food Network. Council also agreed an additional £300,000 funding for the Food Network to extend the period the funding will cover to April 2023 to September 2023.
Executive Councillor for Economy, Comm Empowerment & Wealth Building, Kirsteen Sullivan said: "At a time when more households are feeling the effects in the rise of the cost of living, it is imperative that support is provided where possible.
"The West Lothian Food Network continues to grow in membership and covers the whole of West Lothian and the support they are delivering for local people is invaluable. The additional funding committed today will help support low-income households to be able to access good quality, nutritious food on an on-going basis."
If anyone is requiring assistance with accessing food support you can visit the community food map https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/access-to-food which lists all the community food providers who can help, or alternatively please contact the advice shop via https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/advice-shop-referral
