HELENSBURGH and Lomond Young Carers have been awarded a grant of more than £100,000 by BBC Children in Need.

The new funding will enable the project to continue providing services to disadvantaged children and young people in the area.

Over three years, the Helensburgh and Lomond Young Carers Initiative will use funding of £102,778 to provide young carers living in rural areas with one-to-one support and access to group activities and study groups.

The group activities and study groups will help them make friends, improve their mental health and increase their confidence.

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Eileen McCrory, manager of the group, said: “We are extremely grateful to everyone at BBC Children in Need who have made this possible.

"We know that the responsibilities of caring for a family member can be extremely testing for a young person and can really affect their mental health, social life and self-confidence.

"Using the funding from BBC Children in Need we’re going to be able to ensure young carers in the area are given the vital support they need to lead happier, healthier lives.”

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Speaking of the new grant, Florence Burke, impact senior manager of Scotland at BBC Children in Need, said: “We're absolutely delighted to be awarding funding to such brilliant charities and projects like Helensburgh and Lomond Young Carers Initiative, and I'm looking forward to seeing the difference that they will make to young lives in the community.

"I also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported BBC Children in Need in 2018.

"Without your generosity, the amazing work that these charities and projects do in creating a brighter future for disadvantaged children and young people wouldn’t be possible.”

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Across Argyll and Bute, BBC Children in Need is currently funding 12 projects to a value of more than £600,000.

A total of £58million was raised throughout the 2018 nationwide appeal.