An £11.5 million fund has been opened for applications for community developments.

Community groups and projects can now apply for the Investing in Communities Fund to tackle disadvantage, poverty and inequality.

The fund encourages community-led development, design and delivery of sustainable local solutions addressing local issues, circumstances and aspirations – such as supporting out-of-school provision, providing activities and workshops, creating a community café and improving job opportunities.

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Grants of up to £250,000 are available over three years providing stability and recognising the need for longer term planning in some projects.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: "We know that the best people to decide how to tackle local challenges are the people who live and work in the area.

"The introduction of this flexible, multi-year fund is the result of listening to the views of people in many different communities. It will enable community groups to make sustainable and impactful changes by providing them with the resources they need, when they need them.

"It will empower communities to have more control over of their own affairs and take forward more of the activities they have identified as being vital to their local area."