3578 families get winter help

THE SCOTTISH Government’s winter hardship fund saw a total £357,800 paid-out among 3578 families in Dumfries and Galloway in December, new figures have revealed. The one-off £100 payment, intended to relieve struggling households of added seasonal pressures during the Covid-19 pandemic, was offered to those eligible for free school meals. Commenting, South Scotland MSP Joan McAlpine said: “This has been an incredibly difficult time for families in Dumfries and Galloway who may have faced lost earnings, increased food bills and cold weather. The £100 winter payment will hopefully have eased the financial strain many have been facing.”