GLASGOW Airport’s owner AGS Airports has pledged £40,000 to buy hotel accommodation for homeless people to allow them to self-isolate should they have to.
The donation is in response to the #GiveHope appeal launched by homeless charity, Simon Community Scotland.
It will allow some of Scotland’s most vulnerable people to stay in single hotel rooms during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Simon Community Scotland launched the appeal following a lack of suitable shelter facilities in Glasgow, several of which have closed because of health concerns.
READ MORE: Regional airports to close to scheduled flights over coronavirus
Derek Provan, AGS Airports’ chief executive, said: “We initially contacted the Simon Community with the offer of using our second terminal after partially closing our buildings at Glasgow Airport.
“This is due to the lack of passenger demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When it became clear this wasn’t a viable option and we learned of the very real plight facing the city’s homeless community, many of which have underlying health conditions, we quickly took the decision to redirect funds from our charitable FlightPath Fund.
“This is an extremely challenging time for businesses across the UK. We are all taking steps to protect our businesses and our employees, but also want to help those who really need it most and do whatever we possibly can to protect the most vulnerable in our society.
“The Simon Community does amazing work and everyone at AGS is pleased this money will help support the homeless at a time when it is needed most.”
Lorraine McGrath, chief executive of Simon Community Scotland, added: “It is exactly this type of rapid humanitarian response that will assist us to not just provide comfort, dignity and somewhere safe for people to be, but it will undoubtedly save lives by protecting some of the most physically vulnerable people in Glasgow right now.
“We are hugely grateful for AGS Airports’ rapid response to our appeal and we hope many more come alongside them in helping us help those in the worst possible circumstances as this crisis grows.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here