Plan to assist homeless children

The project will provide educational support for children

A pilot project is to be launched to provide educational support to children from homeless families across Dumfries and Galloway.

It is one of four areas to benefit from the scheme, along with Glasgow, Edinburgh and South Lanarkshire.

The housing charity Shelter has secured almost £500,000 of funding to recruit liaison workers for each area.

They will be asked to give specialist help to youngsters who find themselves living in temporary accommodation.

Shelter Scotland's Head of Campaigns James Jopling said the scheme could really make a difference.

Domestic violence

"We have a project in Dumfries working with homeless families and individuals trying to support them through the difficult process that follows once you have been made homeless," he said.

"That's families who have maybe suffered from domestic abuse, people escaping violence.

"What this post funded by the Big Lottery Fund will enable us to do is work particularly with the children in trying to ensure they get a better chance at decent schooling during that difficult period when someone is homeless."

Mr Jopling added that more than 1,000 households were assessed as homeless in the region up to March this year.

He said that meant there was a "substantial number" of families in need of support.