Link Group Ltd has been awarded £293,000 as part of the latest Support and Connect funding package from the Big Lottery.

The money will allow the Link's Tenant Transition Advice Service to help support more tenants affected by welfare reform, as well as allowing Link to extend the service to its partners, Horizon and Barony Housing Associations.

The service aims to assist more than 1,000 tenants in 23 local authority areas by providing money advice, help with debt management and access to internet services and financial products such as loan options, home contents insurance and bank and credit union accounts.

-- Advertisement --

After receiving support from the service, which builds on previous funding from the Scottish Government, tenants will be able to manage their debts effectively, will have the confidence to take up appropriate financial products and services and will have the ability to manage these online.

Link's Director of Housing Services, Maureen Middleton, said: "We recognise that this is a very testing time for tenants and welcome this significant level of funding which will enable us to help people sustain their tenancies and become better equipped to deal with reduced incomes.’"

Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Committee Chair, added: "We're aware of families and communities across Scotland who are struggling to cope with financial, emotional and physical pressures. Enabling people to find a way through these challenges is at the heart of our work at the Big Lottery Fund and this fund supports organisations across Scotland who are providing essential support."

(JP/MH)