ANTI-SECTARIAN projects across Glasgow are to share £2million to help combat bigotry.

The cash was ­announced today for 18 groups across the country, with the bulk of it coming to ­Glasgow and the west of Scotland.

The money is split ­among national groups, which also have a strong focus in the west of Scotland. They include Nil By Mouth, which gets get £111,000, for its Tackling Sectarianism in the Workplace project.

Local groups such as Royston Youth Action and NG Homes Community Football Partnership in the north of the city are also on the list.

The Royston Group will receive £151,000 to work in schools and communitie.

NG Homes will get £40,000 to bring community football clubs together to change sectarian attitudes.

Others to get cash are Aberlour Youthpoint in Pollok, which gets £64,000, Bridging the Gap in south Glasgow, (£140,000) Faith in Community, working across Glasgow and Lanarkshire (£300,000), and Xchange Scotland, working across the city.

Engender ARTiculate and In Cahootz Scotland, who also do work in the city, will get a share of the cash.

Engender ARTiculate convener Dr Marsha Scott said: "This will make it possible for us to identify the links ­between gender and the experience of sectarianism in communities."

Robert Docherty, NG homes chief executive, said: "The programme will use football as a way to positively change attitudes and behaviour towards ­sectarianism, breaking down barriers and ­encouraging greater understanding."

Roseanna Cunningham, community safety Minister, said: "We ­believe the solution to ending the scourge of sectarianism in society lies in and with our communities."

She added: "We are confident the projects we are supporting today will also tackle sectarianism at its roots, helping to finally consign such outdated prejudices to history."

stewart.paterson@ eveningtimes.co.uk