The funding from the Scottish Government’s Supporting Communities Fund will go directly to more than 250 community groups.

The Supporting Communities Fund was announced on March 18 as part of a £350 million package to help those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Up to £10m is being made available as an initial sum available to support community anchor organisations, and a further allocation of £10m has been approved to support the second phase of the fund.

The community groups operate as ‘anchors’, bringing together charities, volunteers, social enterprises and the public sector to co-ordinate the local response and channel support where it is needed. This includes making hot meals, organising grocery and prescription deliveries and providing wellbeing support.

Communities secretary Aileen Campbell said: “We know that community groups working in the heart of our communities and neighbourhoods have a wealth of experience in responding to challenges. We have seen this through many examples of the incredible response to COVID-19 in the past weeks that have made such a huge difference to so many people. This inspiring work that is already underway in our neighbourhoods is proving essential to our nation’s resilience.

“This funding will be a valuable lifeline for the range of innovative support available for people in our communities, and we are working fast to get that support to where it is needed most.”

• Read all of our articles relating to COVID-19 here.