Action for Children and OHAC deliver vouchers for vulnerable families in Orkney

Staff at Orkney Health and Care have helped leading children’s charity Action for Children distribute grocery vouchers to 32 vulnerable families and young children in the county ahead of Christmas.

The Action for Children charity contacted the OHAC team advising they had received funds from the Scottish Government’s Winter Wellbeing Fund to distribute to 32 vulnerable young people and families on the Scottish Government’s behalf. This was in the form of vouchers from major supermarkets and electricity top up cards.

Orkney Health and Care set to work asking all managers to nominate local young people and families they work with.

There was £6700 in Tesco vouchers issued to 20 families and £2000 was issued to 20 families for energy bills – 12 families received both.

Stephen Brown, Chief Officer for Orkney Health and Care said: “Huge thanks must go to Action for Children who helped us ensure this support from the Scottish Government could reach local families in time for Christmas.

“Distributing these vouchers certainly put a spring into the step of our social workers and I’d like to thank all staff who helped deliver this boost to our most vulnerable families in what is a tough time in yet another exceptionally difficult year.”

Paul Carberry, Action for Children’s Director for Scotland, commented: “This investment from the Scottish Government has been a vital lifeline in our efforts to support families in Orkney. The impact of the pandemic is still being felt, especially by the most vulnerable families, and these funds allow our frontline staff to quickly provide crucial assistance. In Orkney, this funding will allow us to provide 20 families with supermarket vouchers and support 32 families with their energy bills. We hope this will make a positive difference to child, families and young people over the festive period.”