£2.6m will be shared among 6,500 vulnerable children and families in time for Christmas.

On Wednesday 30 November, the Glasgow City Integration Joint Board approved recommendations to fund the one-off £400 winter payment to looked after children.

Foster Carers will also receive an increase of £15 per week starting from January 2023.

Cllr Chris Cunningham, Chair of Glasgow City Integration Joint Board, said: “The current cost of living crisis continues to have a detrimental impact on the city and especially the children and families who are supported by our services.

“We have a responsibility to do what we can with the resources we have to help alleviate the impacts of the cost of living crisis on those we know are extremely vulnerable.”

The £400 winter payment will be made to the following groups:

• Children on the child protection register and other vulnerable children
• Looked after children and people in continuing care/aftercare

The Integration Joint Board (IJB) also agreed to increase foster carer fees by £15 per week. This is in recognition of the cost of living crisis and the fact foster carer fees have not increased for a number of years.

This will have a recurring cost of £0.511m and will not impact on allowances which is still subject of a national review.

The increase will take effect from January 2023.