More than £280,000 has been allocated to help third sector organisations tackle the effects of the cuts

Charities from across Scotland have won funding to tackle the effects of welfare reforms.

The latest awards from the Community Capacity and Resilience Fund has seen £288,614 handed out to 23 organisations from 14 different local authority areas for new projects.

The fund was launched earlier this year and aims to ensure that third sector support is in place to help communities deal with recent welfare changes and poverty.

The initiative gives local community based organisations the opportunity to test out new, creative approaches, develop their workforce and add capacity. It aims to combat social inequalities, promote social inclusion and support partnership working.

Around half of the projects that were successful in this round of funding will focus on giving advice on welfare or Universal Credit.

“This round of the fund saw us supporting projects involved in providing family support, money management and food integration," said Irene Connelly, SCVO programme development manager.

“Almost half of the projects are welfare advice or Universal Credit related, which is perhaps an indicator of the effect of recent welfare reforms.”

One project, the Clydesdale Citizens Advice Bureau, will provide a new specialist service delivering impartial and confidential advice and support to residents of the Clydesdale area who are entitled to Universal Credit (UC), either as a new claim or a change in circumstances.

Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 were up for grabs, and the fund builds upon work developed by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), Development Trusts Associations Scotland and the Scottish Community Alliance.