Voluntary groups face £1.4m cuts

GRANTS awarded to community and voluntary groups are set to be slashed by around 13 per cent next year.

Around 10.9 million was awarded this year to groups that help tackle poverty under the banner of the Fairer Scotland Fund.

That figure is expected to be slashed to around 9.5m in the year beginning in April.

The reduction is being caused by changes to the way the Scottish Government provides funding.

Grants for individual groups will not be decided until after the council's budget is confirmed in February.

City leader Jenny Dawe said: "The council and partners are committed to tackling poverty and reducing inequality through the methods that work best.

"Until the Scottish Government indicates how much money is being given to local authorities to replace Fairer Scotland Funding, the best we can do is give organisations our best estimate."