Join the Trussell Trust, and our partners across Scotland, on a journey as we explore how we can move towards our vision of a Scotland without the need for food banks. To combat financial insecurity and poverty six projects innovative cash first projects have been launched across Scotland, each tailored to their specific community. These groundbreaking projects will enhance access to financial support, advice, and holistic services while preventing crisis and fostering economic security. On this podcast we will be following the progress of each project and hearing from the experts who are designing and delivering this work.
Lewis O'Neill, an advisor from Motherwell and Wishaw Citizens Advice Bureau, joins Angelle McCluskey from Trussell to discuss the cash first work being undertaken in the area alongside colleagues at Airdrie Citizens Advice Bureau. The work being undertaken across North Lanarkshire aims to increase access to existing services and to ensure that anyone who is in crisis can secure timely cash first advice and support. Listen now and find out more.
Ross Middlemiss from Faith in Community: Dundee joins Angelle McCluskey from Trussell to discuss the cash first work being undertaken in Dundee and how this is helping to move Scotland towards a future without food banks. One of the ways that Ross and the team in Dundee are embedding Cash First approaches across the city is by providing Community Guiders training to volunteers and staff in a variety of different community settings from food larders, to community craft groups, to statutory services such as housing. Learn more about this, and so much more of the incredible work going on in the city, in this episode.
Our host, Angelle McCluskey, meets Polly Jones (The Trussell Trust) and Sabine Goodwin (Independent Food Aid Network) as they come together to discuss the recent Cash First Communities Conference, the cash first approaches that could change Scotland as we move forward and the breadth of work already being done to build our cash first communities. IFAN is the UK's network of independent food aid providers. Their vision is of a country without the need for charitable food aid where adequate and nutritious food is affordable to all. The Trussell Trust supports a nationwide network of food banks and together they provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.
Sarah Russell from Perth Citizens Advice Bureau joins the Trussell Trust's Angelle McCluskey to discuss how they're creating a ‘no wrong door' approach to advice in Perth and Kinross. Together they explore how the Bureau is tackling the challenges of working with rural and urban communities, getting local stakeholders on board, and what they hope to achieve throughout the duration of the project.