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Five Scottish charitable projects are among the latest beneficiaries of the 拢35 million Armed Forces Covenant (LIBOR) Fund.

The announcement was made today by the Prime Minister as he hosted a Downing Street reception for military charities. A number of Scottish charities attended the reception including Poppyscotland, Royal British Legion Scotland and Horseback UK.

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund uses fines levied on banks for attempting to manipulate LIBOR - the average interest rate estimated by leading banks in London - for use in supporting the UK鈥檚 armed forces community.

One organisation which will benefit is Aberdeenshire-based charity Horseback UK. They will receive 拢110,000 to aid their work providing equine therapy and a range of rural skills and adventure training to those who have served in the UK armed forces.

Mr Carmichael said:

A number of excellent and innovative military charities across Scotland will benefit from today鈥檚 announcement. I support the work they are doing to aid servicemen and women both past and present across the UK.

It is right that fines received from banks who attempted LIBOR manipulation is being used for good causes across the UK to provide those serving personnel, veterans and their families with the support they need. This funding demonstrates this government鈥檚 continued commitment to service personnel and veterans across Scotland.

Martin Gibson of Veterans Scotland said:

This significant amount of funding is very welcome. The LIBOR fund is providing valuable support for veterans and the armed forces community as a whole across Scotland. Today鈥檚 announcement by the Prime Minister will help to support a number of very worthy charitable projects improving the lives of many veterans and their families across Scotland.

The four other Scottish charities that will benefit from this funding are:

• The Coming Home Centre in Glasgow will receive 拢107,000 to develop four community based resource centres for serving members of the armed forces, those in transition, veterans and their families. The centres will provide welfare, educational and employment support.

• Three councils (East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde) will receive a total of 拢87,000 to help pool resources and cooperate to establish a standard, veterans and service leavers community pathway hub. This hub will establish links between all the relevant agencies, providing a one stop shop for housing, employment, benefits, addiction and medical treatment.

• Gardening Leave, an Ayrshire based charity, will receive 拢73,000 to convert a currently unused bowls pitch and pavilion near Dundee to provide horticultural therapy for troubled veterans.

• Royal British Legion will receive 拢14,000 to aid their work in Inverness providing care and beds for ex service personnel who enter care homes in later life and to expand their operation for care in partnership with Erskine.