Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Cards worth £105 each have started arriving at 85,000 households across the city.
The gift cards have been issued by Glasgow City Council to help eligible, low-income households cope with the cost-of-living crisis.
At the same time, the scheme will provide a multi-million pound injection into the local economy, with the gift cards only redeemable with city businesses registered to accept them.
Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “This much-needed economic stimulus will give extra spending power to lower-income households across the city at a time when they are facing the worst financial pressure in decades – and with all the signs that those strains are likely to increase.
“As a council, we are committed to doing whatever we can to support those in the greatest need. Our use of these gift cards does exactly that.
“But they have a double benefit for communities across Glasgow as they provide a real boost to local businesses in our high streets as they continue to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
“There’s undoubtedly a longer-term benefit for Glaswegians to shop locally – and for more businesses to sign up to accept the gift cards as payment.”
Glasgow City Council Leader Susan Aitken and Scotland’s Towns Partnership Chief Officer Phil Prentice
The cards have been posted out to eligible households, with arrivals expected to be complete in the coming days.
Every household receiving a gift card has already been sent a unique activation code which they will need to use their card.
As well as helping households with the rising cost of living, Glasgow City Council hopes that money available to spend will help local businesses as they continue to recover and rebuild from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The city’s gift card scheme is the UK’s biggest.
More than 700 businesses – including all kinds of shops, places to eat, salons and visitor attractions – have already signed up to accept the gift cards. The drive to increase that number continues.
While the card values alone will deliver a one-off injection of more than £8m into city firms, supporters believe the scheme has the power to unlock millions of pounds more for the economy by encouraging people to spend more time in their local area.
They are also available for anyone to buy and spend with, in the same way any other gift card is.
It is hoped that the council disbursement programme will encourage residents, visitors, other local companies and organisations to support city businesses in the longer term.
The gift card is an extension of the Scotland Loves Local campaign, the drive led by Scotland’s Towns Partnership’s (STP) for people to help their communities recover from the coronavirus pandemic by supporting local businesses.
STP Chief Officer Phil Prentice said: “This is fantastic use of the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card, helping some of the most vulnerable people in Glasgow, while channelling millions of pounds back into local businesses. Everyone wins.
“It has never been more important to choose local and support the businesses in your area. The council’s use of the gift cards reinforces that in an incredibly powerful way, encouraging everyone to Love local, love Glasgow.”
Perth-based fintech Miconex is administering and delivering the Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card, as it is each of the individual gift card programmes available in Scotland’s 32 local authority regions.
Managing Director Colin Munro said: “A fantastic range of businesses are signed up to accept the Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card – meaning they can be used for people to spend on everything from household essentials such as food and clothes, to family activities which make our lives better.
“Our vast experience of gift card programmes across the UK and abroad shows that they have the power to unlock far more money for the local economy than the amount directly loaded on to them as people are encouraged to spend more time – and money – in their home area.”
Funding for the council disbursement project has come via a £9.45m Covid Economic Recovery Funding package awarded to the council by the Scottish Government.
There is no application process for the gift cards distributed by the council. Households which were in receipt of Council Tax Reduction as of June 1st 2022 will automatically receive their free gift card.
Find out more about the Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card at www.glasgow.gov.uk/loveslocal. Businesses can also find details there about how to register.
You can find out more details about the wider Scotland Loves Local Gift Card programme here.
