Fund provides support to DGHP households

More than 400 vulnerable DGHP households across Dumfries and Galloway have been helped by an emergency fund set up by Wheatley Group.

DGHP, part of Wheatley Group, has been supporting customers through Wheatley’s Emergency Response Fund which provides extra help to those in financial hardship, who are ill or self-isolating to buy essential items.

That support has included help with fuel top-ups, white goods such as cookers, activity packs for children, mobile phone top-ups, baby milk and nappies and pet food.

The fund, supported by the Scottish Government, the Wheatley Foundation and other donations, has made a big difference to households across the country.

More than 300 of DGHP’s sheltered residents have received activity packs to help them during lockdown, thanks to the Fund.

Jeanette Barnes, DGHP’s Head of Supporting People, said: “Several weeks into the lockdown our staff noticed some residents were starting to feel quite low and becoming quite bored, and some were feeling isolated from friends and family.

“DGHP staff applied to the Emergency Response Fund to see if anything could be done to help our 312 sheltered residents across Dumfries and Galloway.

“The application was successful and we were able to purchase and deliver a variety of things to help all of our sheltered residents, including some puzzle books, playing cards, bags, pens and also some plants to brighten their day – everyone said their spirits had been lifted.”

Achasdevy Pratt, a DGHP customer from Upper Nithsdale, is relieved this week after support received through the fund meant she could continue her further education at college.

Achasdevy was at risk of having to drop out of her NC Photography course when her own camera broke. She said: “Before lockdown I was borrowing a camera from the college, but since then I’ve been using my phone, which has now broken.

“I’ve not been able to keep up with my assignments because I couldn’t take photographs and I was going to have to give up the course. I don’t think I would have been able to re-do the course again next year either, so this has been such a relief as it has meant I can continue my studies.”

Jean Fyfe, Wheatley Foundation Board member, added: “Many of our vulnerable customers have no one else to turn to for support, so our Emergency Response Fund is a real lifeline.

“The one-off payments from the Fund are making a big difference to people and families who are struggling because they are ill or self-isolating or don’t have other means of support.

“We will continue to do everything we can to help vulnerable customers during this crisis.”

The Emergency Response Fund is one of a range of measures introduced by Scotland’s leading housing, care and property management group to help customers combat the coronavirus crisis.

The Fund is available to customers of DGHP, Glasgow Housing Association, Dunedin Canmore, Cube, Loretto Housing, West Lothian Housing Partnership, Wheatley Care, YourPlace and Lowther Homes.