A Glasgow church has been given funding to provide childcare for asylum seekers as part of 500,000 from the Scottish Executive for projects that help refugees and asylum seekers to integrate.

St Rollox Church will get 30,000 to allow asylum seekers and local residents to attend English and computer classes, access befriending services and see health visitors.

This is one of 15 projects to get funding from the Scottish Executive, which was announced by communities minister Malcolm Chisholm last week.

He said: "We must ensure that Scotland is a welcoming place and that refugees have the opportunity to contribute to communities in Scotland."

Funding of 10,000 will go to Save the Children and the Glasgow Centre for the Child and Society towards a web site on asylum law and accessible information for asylum seeker children and their parents. Other funding will help asylum seekers and refugees gain work experience and employment.

The British Red Cross will get more than 40,000 for three different projects, including a Women in Crisis scheme.