Glasgow mum praises Annexe Communities as it gets National Lottery funding

A mum lost two stones in six weeks while making sure her children had enough to eat.

Kelly Young was left struggling to feed her four children and keep up with rent payments after being made redundant in December 2021.

The 41-year described living in a “deep hole” when she was referred to charity Annexe Communities, which provided her with advice, food parcels and fuel vouchers.

Kelly, from Glasgow, said: “I now have a job as a cleaner and I am working hard to support my family as best I can.

“I have always been a believer in being able to help yourself, but when you are in such a deep hole, it’s impossible.

“It took a lot for me to swallow my pride and admit that I needed help for me and my family, but the truth is I am out working and I still can’t manage.

“Pay day becomes pay-away day and I am constantly living on my overdraft – it’s a never-ending cycle.”

Annexe Communities has received £23,500 from the National Lottery Community Fund as part of £1.5m is being distributed to 73 groups to help with the increase in living costs.

As well as distributing food vouchers, clothing vouchers and energy top-ups, the group will now be able to run a soup social and provide soup packs with all the relevant ingredients needed for people to make their favourite soups at home.

Kate Still, Scotland chair at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Local charities and community groups are fully aware of what’s going on right now in their local areas and are therefore best placed to deliver this support quickly.

“It’s all thanks to National Lottery players that they can continue this vital work.”