A new umbrella body for Christian charities will make it easier for organisations to work together to tackle poverty and inequality says founders

A new umbrella body has been created for Christian charities in Scotland.

Serve Scotland is being led by the Evangelical Alliance Scotland with the aim of providing more support for local communities and helping organisations to better tackle poverty.

Some of the country's most influential Christian groups are founding members including Bethany Christian Trust, Glasgow City Mission, Blythswood Care, The Cinnamon Network and Redeeming Our Communities.

There is already a huge amount of good work being done across Scotland from local lunch clubs to night shelters, foodbanks and street pastors - Fred Drummond

Fred Drummond, chair of Serve and national director of Evangelical Alliance Scotland, said: "At a time of increased public sector budget cuts there has never been a more important time for churches to be effectively serving their local communities.

"There is already a huge amount of good work being done across Scotland from local lunch clubs to night shelters, foodbanks and street pastors. But, too often this is disjointed and there is no forum for people to share their work and see where the gaps are in our towns and cities."

The establishment of the Serve will also help to create a single point of contact for local authorities, MSPs, civil servants and the media wishing to engage with the Christain third sector.

Local pilot groups have been set up in Glasgow, Dundee and the Highlands with further plans to launch in the Western Isles and Edinburgh soon.