Community groups have received a share of more than £500,000 after an energy firm diverted income from renewable energy to help those fighting the impact of Covid-19.
Scottish and Southern Electricity (SSE) aims to distribute a total of £1million to support communities through the crisis.
Grants from its renewable energy businesses have been diverted at short notice into a coronavirus response fund, with communities across Scotland having already benefited to the tune of £550,000.
SSE chief executive Alistair Phillips-Davies said community groups knew best how to get help quickly to those who need it the most.
He said: “Local communities are so impressive in how they’ve rallied and established response projects so quickly, and we have worked with them to treble our normal rate of grant giving in just six weeks.”
One project already benefitting from a cash injection is the Dunbeath and District Centre in Caithness, which received £10,000 to deliver hot meals, shopping and prescriptions to people who have self-isolated.
And nearby gin distillery Ice and Fire, near Latheron, was awarded more than £9,000 to produce 2,000 litres of hand sanitiser to be distributed free of charge.
The distillery’s Jacqueline Black said: “Covid-19 is not going away any time soon, so I think using hand sanitiser is going to be a part of daily life, and the ability to give it to people free is fantastic.”
