EXTRA workers are to be employed in Dunfermline to help tackle poverty and prevent crisis in the city.

Members of the City of Dunfermline Area Committee agreed to allocate £64,000 which will help to finance the temporary staff.

A welfare support assistant and a full time support officer will both be taken on while additional hours will be paid for an existing community education worker and a tutor in cooking skills.

The additions will focus on aspects of work across Dunfermline that assist in tackling poverty and preventing crisis.

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A report to councillors explained: "The post holders will work collaboratively with existing staff and partners, as well as existing groups such as Dunfermline Poverty Action Group (DPAG) to continue to support and develop a series of projects and programmes across the city.

"Welfare support is a key area of focus and is critical to supporting individuals and families through crisis, but also in educating on crisis prevention and mitigation.

"With a large focus on helping to maximise peoples’ income, the delivery of benefit maximisation checks with individuals and training with local groups and organisations sees a real shift towards crisis prevention."

The cash will mean that crisis, welfare and signposting support work can continue at the Wells hub delivery sites which include Broomhead Flats, Dell Farquharson Community Centre, and Touch Church.

The report continued: "These sites continue to build on a 'no wrong door' approach and collaborate with a variety of partners working across the city to provide joined up delivery," added the report.

"In addition to the 'hub' delivery model, outreach welfare support has increased over the winter months, with 26 sessions delivered at a variety of different sites since October 2023.

"This outreach model helps to target the “hard to reach” within our communities, and to engage with those we couldn’t have engaged with previously."