A total of £2.5 million will be shared between 13 projects in Scotland

Projects that are improving employment support by linking with health and social care, justice and housing services have received a funding boost.

Thirteen projects operating across 15 local authorities will receive funding through the Scottish Government’s £2.5 million employability innovation and integration fund to help people access employment and training.

Funding will go to a mixture of projects including an initiative in Fife which will increase employment outcomes for people suffering mental ill-health and a project in North Lanarkshire to join up services for homeless residents who have recognised health, social care and housing support needs.

Minister for employability and training Jamie Hepburn said: “People affected by homelessness, who have criminal convictions or suffer from mental ill-health face significant barriers to finding work, and it can be challenging to balance the search for a job with the need to access other important services.

“These 13 new projects will join together employability and skills support with health and social care, housing, and justice services which will improve the quality of localised support available for people across the country.”