An Aberdeen foodbank boss has questioned how hundreds of thousands of pounds is being shared to help the city’s most needy.
Instant Neighbour chief executive Sophy Green has hit out at plans for Cfine to receive a £387,000 boost.
Making it clear that she was not attacking her fellow charity, Mrs Green has complained to the council’s chief executive.
Councillors will meet on Wednesday to discuss the soaring cost of living – and how they might help.
To aid those most in need, city officials have recommended giving Cfine £430,000.
Cfine funding would be used to bulk buy food for other Aberdeen foodbanks
Most of that – £387,000 – will be used to bulk buy food to be shared across the city by Cfine and other foodbanks.
Instant Neighbour has given out about 3,000 food parcels since April 1 – equivalent to around 45,000 meals.
Sophy Green wants all the city’s foodbanks to benefit directly from the extra cash.
She told The P&J: “I am not complaining about Cfine, a fantastic organisation we work very closely with.
“At the moment there are more than 40 members of Food Poverty Action Aberdeen. It would be useful to have some money spent around.
“I recognise CFine would be purchasing food on a bulk basis and sharing it, if this is approved.
“But this is more about the process for me, not about the money – why has it gone direct to them rather than coming more broadly to other organisations, not just Instant Neighbour?”
Complaint taken to Aberdeen City Council’s highest office
She’s now lodged a formal complaint about the £430,000 grant with council chief executive Angela Scott.
Funding recommendations were brought forward by council’s early intervention and community empowerment team.
The Press And Journal asked for an official response from the council. A spokeswoman declined.
Meanwhile, Cfine chief Fiona Rae said it was a “matter between Instant Neighbour and Aberdeen City Council”.
“The proposal includes significant funding to purchase food to distribute throughout Cfine’s extensive network of over 100 organisations in the city,” she added.
Her charity has distributed more than 1,200 tonnes of food, equivalent to more than 2.8 million meals, throughout Aberdeen, since the start of the Covid pandemic.
And Ms Rae pointed to their experience in using Scottish Government and council funding for bulk buying too.
Aberdeen foodbank funding row breaks out as energy firms given go-ahead for 80% price increase
The row comes as energy regulator Ofgem announces an 80% rise in energy costs.
From October 1, the average household could could face eye-watering bills of £3,549.
Instant Neighbour head Mrs Green said the hike was “terrifying”, given how “desperate” people already are.
“I cannot see anything getting better for anyone at all in the near future.”
Another £570,000 is also due to be shared with charities and welfare organisations on Wednesday.
Council officers give ‘no thought’ to Aberdeen’s most deprived areas, councillor claims
Meanwhile, Labour councillor Deena Tissera has now written a damning indictment of city officials to Ms Scott.
The Hilton,Woodside and Stockethill member accused council officers of “overlooking” other Aberdeen foodbanks.
And she raised concerns Cfine’s involvement in the national Fareshare project might risk the city’s cash feeding the hungry elsewhere.
Ms Rae has since dismissed the suggestion.
“All in all, chief executive, this report highlights that there are more questions than answers,” Ms Tissera wrote.
“Your officers appear to have favoured one foodbank without any analysis as to how it intends to audit our money or as to why Cfine and not some other Aberdeen operator.
“It appears there has been no thought given to how we help in regeneration and deprived areas.
“This report seems to tick the boxes without telling us how we are tackling the problem.”
City officials defended by SNP operations convener
The SNP’s Miranda Radley convenes the operations committee which will decide on the grant next week.
She said: “Council staff have put forward proposals to award Cfine funding as a grant in their professional opinion, and a decision will be taken at the upcoming operations committee.
“Councillor Tiserra has once again failed to understand how council processes work, particularly around the fact that procurement processes aren’t required for a grant.
“But, as always, she can put forward her alternative proposals at the committee meeting on the day.”
The P&J’s Big Food Appeal
The Press and Journal’s The Big Food Appeal raises awareness of the help and support available to people across the region who are struggling with increasing costs.
Check out our interactive map to find the foodbank closest to you, or take a look at our article that debunks the myths around using them.
For more information, or to get involved with The Big Food Appeal, click here.
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