Armed forces families in West Dunbartonshire are being urged to apply to a new Covid-19 support fund set up by a charity established to support the children of service personnel.

The Royal Caledonian Education Trust (RCET) have launched a ‘crisis fund’ which is open to all serving, veteran and reservist families in West Dunbartonshire.

The Trust has said it will respond to families affected by the crisis by providing food vouchers, paying for utilities bills and supplying children’s clothing to ensure that families can stay warm, clothed and fed for as long as this crisis lasts.

The charity has received £5,000 towards their response from the Community Response, Recovery and Resilience Fund, managed by Foundation Scotland, but are still calling support from local communities to donate so that they can support as many families as possible.

READ MORE: Autism group admits lockdown is 'a struggle'

Karen Stock, Children and Families Support Service Coordinator at the charity said: “We are delighted to receive this funding at such a critical moment in our support of armed forces and veteran families.

“Many families are struggling financially and emotionally due to the COVID crisis and this grant will allow us to reach many more families who need our support.”

Jackie Bailie, MSP for Dumbarton is backing the intiative she said: “The help that the RCET offer to armed forces families across Scotland year after year is highly commendable.

“Almost every family in the UK will be experiencing a greater worry at the moment about how to keep themselves safe and how to make ends meet.

READ MORE: Coronavirus live - get the latest here

"hose families who have one or more members in the armed forces will have an added level of stress. It is fantastic that the RCET is making sure that no armed forces family is left behind and forgotten about during this pandemic.

I urge any Armed Forces family who thinks they might benefit from this help to reach out to the RCET and get the support they deserve.”

For more information, contact Karen Stock at familysupport@rcet.org.uk or call RCET’s Head Office on 0131 322 7350.