Money seized from rate-fiddling banks to be given to fire service trust

Money seized from rate-fiddling banks to be given to fire service trust

Money seized from bankers is set to benefit the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Family Support Trust by £200,000.

The money, collected from fines issued to banks found to be falsely inflating or deflating rates, will now be used to help care for personnel and their dependants who are injured, suffer ill-health or are bereaved as a result of their service for the public.

Community safety minister Paul Wheelhouse (pictured) announced the funding as he visited Falkirk Fire Station to meet with frontline fire officers and representatives from the SFRS Family Support Trust.

Mr Wheelhouse said: “This £200,000 will make a significant difference to the services that the SFRS Family Support Trust can offer, enabling it to become a national body far quicker than it would otherwise.”

The SFRS Family Support Trust offers financial and practical support in times of need to fire service personnel and their families.

It offers assistance in the form of bereavement grants, hardship assistance grants, children’s investment trust and the beneficiary Christmas grant.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Family Support Trust was originally established in the west of Scotland but is now extending its reach across the whole of Scotland.

This £200,000 will specifically be used to roll out the trusts’ services to firefighters and their families across Scotland.

SFRS Family Support Trust Chairperson Iain Morris said: “The grant will provide us with the catalyst we need to develop our exciting plans and provide our charitable services for personnel in the East and North Service areas.

“We are very proud of our unique partnership with SFRS and we are dedicated to helping serving and retired fire personnel and their families at times of greatest need, including injury, illness and bereavement, throughout the whole of Scotland.”

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