The cash injection is part of a £1.5 million funding award to five organisation across Scotland from the Big Lottery Fund.

The Helensburgh Child Contact Centre is amongst several projects to receive funding in Argyll and Bute, with other areas to benefit including Orkney, the Borders, Tayside and Fife, and Central Scotland – which are all affiliated to Relationships Scotland.

The projects provide a network of support helping to guide families through change and disruption, particularly where this has occurred as a result of separation, divorce or family restructuring.

Family Mediation Argyll and Bute support separated families from their four contact centres in Helensburgh, Oban, Dunoon, and Lochgilphead.

The £190,254 award will be used to employ additional staff who will focus on early intervention support which can lessen the trauma and distress of family breakdown.

Tanya MacDougall, service manager, told the Advertiser: “This funding will make a huge difference to families especially those living in rural or island areas.

“It will help us to support children in vulnerable child contact cases, to maintain positive relationships with both parents, encouraging parents to develop the skills required to parent apart.

“The service will offer local outreach provision to families, ensuring early intervention, lessening the trauma, and distress of family break-down, and thus reducing the risk of emotional damage to our children throughout Argyll and Bute.” Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland chairwoman, said family breakdowns can be traumatic and distressful. She added: “Today’s investment will provide additional support for parents, carers and children through family mediation which is vital in bringing families together to reduce conflict and agree on practical, workable arrangements for the future.

“While these projects are affiliated to Relationships Scotland, they each have their own unique priorities which are one of their biggest strengths. I am delighted to see this funding reaching into those local communities where it is needed most.” Welcoming the news, Stuart Valentine, chief executive of Relationships Scotland, said the £1.5 million funding over five years will help ensure that many more vulnerable families will receive new specialist support.

He added: “Additional support will also be offered to help separated couples work together to care for their children, thereby providing the stability and security that will help enable their children to thrive.”