More than 56,000 households have been helped by the Scottish Welfare Fund during its first nine months of operation, official statistics have revealed.

Between 1 April and 31 December 2013, a total of £18m was allocated and provided assistance to households in a disaster or emergency. It also helped people set up home, or remain within the community, rather than being in care.

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The figures were published on Tuesday (15 April) by Scotland's Chief Statistician.

Of the circa 56,000 households helped by the fund, almost 32,000 were single people, while almost 16,000 were families with children.

The Scottish Welfare Fund consists of Community Care Grants – which helps people to live independently – and Crisis Grants, which provide a safety net in a disaster or emergency. In the nine months of the initiative, 21,100 households received a total of 22,400 awards for Community Care Grants, averaging £640 per award.

In addition 40,000 households – including 5,000 households who'd also received Community Care Grants – received a total of 54,000 Crisis Grant awards, averaging £69 per award.

(JP/IT)