Support scheme for victims of Troubles

A scheme worth £750,000 to help victims and survivors of the Troubles in Northern Ireland has been launched.

The scheme, whose funding was allocated last December, was launched by Victims' Minister Des Browne on Monday.

The money will fund a two-year scheme, run by the Community Relations Council, which provides small grants for projects involving adults and children affected by the Troubles.

Mr Browne said the money would support victims and survivors to become active members of society as part of a process of healing and recovery.

Des Browne: "Great progress has been made towards finding a better way"

"It is about doing that through supporting the projects and activity programmes run by victims' groups," he said.

"Through their work groups have encouraged people who felt isolated and unsupported gradually to find new confidence."

An earlier pilot scheme, the Victims Support Grant Scheme, which was also administered by the Community Relations Council and funded by the government which the Northern Ireland Office said was successful in supporting victims' groups in the province.

The minister added: "Division and violence for a long time shattered the life of this community. But great progress has been made towards finding a new and better way."