Support Grants for Portgordon Residents

The cost of living is rising, and many of us will face hardship’s.
We know from our work during the COVID pandemic, that there are households in our community which will find the coming months challenging.

The Portgordon Community Trust, in partnership with The National Lottery Fund – Cost of Living Support , have allocated funds to help those in our community most severely affected by the cost-of-living crisis. We need your help, as members of the PCT, to spread the word that support is available.

We have partnered with other organisation’s, such as Rural Environmental Action Project (REAP), Citizens Advice Bureau and Moray Council, to reach those people who may not be on social media to give them access to funding.

If you have neighbours, friends or relatives who live in the Portgordon area who might wish to apply for help this winter, please direct them to us.

You can email Michelle on michelle.good@portgordon-ct.org to request one or drop into her office at 20 West High Street.

If you work with an organisation which could help to spread the word, please get in touch to discuss working together.

The scheme will run from January 2023 until September 2023, or until all the allocated funds have been used.

One-off grants of up to £100 per household are available and there will be no means testing or intrusive questions to answer. We will ask what the money will be used for, in order to know what challenges our community is facing and to potentially inform future projects/funding.

For further information, please contact our Development Officer, Michelle Good, or either by email, drop in to see her at her office or call her on 07399031253.

It is not always easy to know where to turn to when we need advice and support. Please find useful links for households regarding debt, the cost of living crisis, energy efficiency and mental wellbeing. 

Debt Advice

MoneySaver’s Debt Advice Locator Tool – Find free debt advice near you.

Moray Citizens Advice Bureau – Provides free, independent, impartial and confidential advice across a range of issues including Benefits, Consumer, Debt, Employment, Housing, Legal, Relationships and Immigration.

Moray Council: Money Advice Moray – Help if you are facing money or debt problems including crisis help, income maximisation, budgeting and help to make benefit applications.

StepChange – Free debt advice and money management.

Cost of Living

Help for Households – See what support is available to help with the cost of living and find out how to save money with energy saving tips.

British Gas Energy Trust – Charitable trust open to all consumers. They can help actually pay off fuel debt or buy energy efficient goods.

Turn2Us – Find out what benefits and tax credits you might be able to get as well as any trusts or benevolent funds that you might be able get help from.

Financial Conduct Authority – Advice on dealing with the financial impact of the cost of living crisis.

Moray Firth Credit Union – Safe, accessible savings and fair, affordable low-interest loans.

Energy Efficiency

Home Energy Scotland – Impartial energy efficiency advice.

Moray Energy Efficiency Scheme – Scottish Government funded scheme to reduce fuel poverty in Moray. Projects include solar panels and battery storage, internal or cavity wall insulation and air source heat pumps. Check website for more information on eligibility criteria.

REAP Scotland – Energy advice including help with bills, switching providers, and available grants/loans.

Mental Wellbeing

Breathing Space – Free, confidential, phone and webchat service for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.

Shout – Free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

Papyrus – Suicide prevention helpline for young people.

Samaritans – Provides confidential non-judgemental emotional support for anyone who is struggling to cope

Childline – Counselling service for children and young people up to their 19th birthday in the United Kingdom provided by the NSPCC.

                                                Generously Funds this initiative