Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has been awarded £296,994 from the Big Lottery Fund.

The funding has been awarded from the Support and Connect Hardship Awards category and will be targeted to support ACHA tenants in Argyll and Bute with money and welfare rights advice.

This will be achieved by delivering a number of services including benefit checks and advice, as well as supporting tenants at appeals and tribunals and assistance with income maximisation.

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Alastair MacGregor, ACHA's Chief Executive said: "As an Association we are delighted at securing this substantial resource which will assist us in helping our poorest and most vulnerable tenants. With the introduction of the 'Bedroom Tax' and Universal Credit implementation on the horizon this resource will allow us to do all we can to help those in greatest need.

"I would like to thank the Big Lottery Fund for recognising the needs in the Association's application and also Gillian McInnes and her team in ACHA for making a quality case for this much needed resource."

Over the past three and a half years, ACHA has run a welfare rights service within its housing management department providing dedicated assistance to tenants who require help with regards to income, debt advice and the benefit system.

This funding success will play a large role in supporting that service until March 2015.

(JP/MH)