A community group based in Clydebank has received nearly £180k in lottery funding to support neurodivergent people with their mental health.

As part of the National Lottery Community Fund, Stepping Stones have been awarded £178,887 in funding to help them support more than 600 people in West Dunbartonshire each year.

Based in Kilbowie Road, the group says they will use the money to grow their support team with two new members and improving one to one sessions in order to deliver mental health support to the neurodiverse community with conditions such as ADHD, autism, tourettes syndrome, who are 16 years or older.

Stepping Stones has been running since 1991 and currently has 11 staff, three volunteers and six trainees as well as other peer supporters.

It was founded by people with mental health challenges after they say they realised their was no community-based support services for those who have experienced a spell of poor mental health.

READ MORE: Recycling centre in Old Kilpatrick to close for several days

John White, operations director of Stepping Stones, says: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to press on with our plans to broaden the range of opportunities available to our neurodiverse communities in West Dunbartonshire.

"This is important because it helps our communities get the support they need and deserve and much more quickly than before.”

John Mooney, chairperson at Stepping Stones says: “I am very pleased that we have received significant funding to develop mental health services for neurodivergent people.

"As someone with life experience of neurodivergence, I know that our needs exceed those services that are normally provided. I look forward to a successful project and mainstreaming of the appropriate services in due course.”