Katrine Bussey

More than £1m of cash seized from criminals is being shared between 110 youth projects, the Scottish Government announced yesterday.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said just under £1.2m would be used to show young people there was "so much more to life than drink, drugs and offending".

The move is the latest part of the government's CashBack for Communities initiative, which uses money seized from criminals under proceeds of crime legislation.

Funding has already been given to football, rugby and arts and culture projects as part of the scheme.

The new cash is the first round of grants from £3m set aside for youth projects.

Mr MacAskill visited one of the groups receiving funding, the Edinburgh City Youth Cafe, receiving money to run summer schemes.

He said: "The Scottish Government is committed to giving our young people the opportunity to realise their potential. It is therefore fitting that we are taking the money from criminals and using it to support youth projects in every part of the country."