The Scottish Government has created a £150,000 fund to help organisations who are worried about leaving the EU

A fund to help support communities through Brexit has been launched.

The Scottish Government is providing £150,000 to enable community organisations, charities and other grassroots groups examine what effect leaving the European Union will have on the people they help.

It is aimed at groups who wouldn’t otherwise have the resources to gather and promote the views of their members on preparing for the UK leaving the EU.

The new fund will focus primarily on enabling community and third sector organisations to consider the impact of Brexit, highlight their concerns and plan for the future - giving them a greater platform to be heard at a Scottish, UK and EU level.

It will offer organisations and networks targeted financial support, as well as welcoming suggestions and ideas from local community groups around the country.

Europe minister Mike Russell said many organisations he had spoken had raised concerns about having the capacity to prepare for Brexit.

He said: “This new fund is about ensuring the full range of voices can be heard, not just those with specialist staff and big budgets. So I want this fund to be a megaphone for under-represented groups across the country.

“Many community organisations are led by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. We need to hear their views and, given the huge uncertainty that Brexit is causing, do all we can to help them prepare.

“There are obvious risks around funding, staffing and future opportunities so it is important that we fully understand these concerns and what can be done to help.”