MORAY COUNCIL HAS secured over £450,000 in the form of European Social Fund cash for two projects courtesy of the Scottish Government.

The first is £334,000 for an employability scheme that will help to train out of work people, enabling them to progress towards finding employment.

Another scheme will address poverty and social exclusion, receiving £121,000 from the fund.

Target for the employability project is to help 100 people back into employment within two years following their completion of a training course, aimed at those who currently face barriers to their returning to work.

Training for that will be provided by partner organisations – including the Elgin Youth Development Group and Social Enterprise Moray.

The poverty and social inclusion project is to be led by Moray Council and aims to advise and assist people in the region who are facing money and debt problems. In particular, the project will seek to help lone parents and people from low income or workless households.

The two-year target for this project is to help 800 people in Moray.

Further information on both projects is available by Email from employment.support.service@moray.gov.uk.

The Scottish Government is the managing authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Business-Industry/support/17404.