A charity funding pot has been boosted in a bid to help tackle youth unemployment.
The People's Postcode Lottery has launched its Dream Fund for the third year, offering financial help to groups looking to work together to realise the project of their dreams.
This time round its trustees chose to increase the cash available by £100,000 so that the fund can help tackle youth unemployment.
With official figures showing more than one in five 16 to 24-year-olds in Scotland are out of work, they felt it was important to invest in projects to assist this group.
The £400,000 being made available brings the total the Dream Fund has provided for good causes over the past three years to £1m.
The money will also go towards projects that encourage people to be more active, community schemes and environmental initiatives.
Clara Govier, head of charities at the People's Postcode Lottery, said: "We are opening the fund again today with the existing categories, encourage active living, bringing communities together and tackling climate change.
"However, this year, in response to the continuing bleak economic outlook and the declining number of opportunities available for young people, we have decided to increase the support available to £400,000 to specifically help expand life opportunities available for our young people."
Charities and organisations can apply for up to £100,000, with groups including Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Football Association Museum Trust having previously been awarded cash.
This year's round of applications is open to organisations from both Scotland and the North West of England.
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