The Scottish Government has announced the creation of a new Communities and Families Fund which will receive £1.5 million a year for the next three years to assist local childcare and family support work. Examples of the work that could be supported include parenting and family support, community playgroups and crèches and community-led refurbishment of playgrounds. The Fund will be the first allocation from the Scottish Government’s £50 million contribution to the Early Years Change Fund, one of the key contributions to ‘preventative’ spending announced in the recent budget.
 The 24 ventures that were successful in getting part of the £6.8m Early Years Early Action funding have been announced. The fund is run for the Scottish Government by Inspiring Scotland.