Cancer BACUP is aiming to help Scotland's varied cultures

The cash hand-outs total �3.5m and are part of the New Opportunities for Health programme.

They are being made to the West of Scotland Regional Cancer Group, a consortium of health boards led by NHS Greater Glasgow and two Scotland wide charities Deaf Connections and Cancer BACUP.

The main focus of the grants to Deaf Connections and Cancer BACUP is to provide health advice, promotion and information to communities who have historically missed out on good quality and effective cancer information.

Cancer BACUP has said it will be working hard to reach groups like the elderly, those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and those from ethnic minorities.

Deaf Connections added that it will be working with those people who are deaf and hard of hearing offering British Sign Language translators to help them cope with the reality of cancer for themselves or a loved one.

This will enable us to reach people throughout Scotland who are affected by cancer, particularly those from minority ethnic groups, those living in rural communities and in disadvantaged inner city areas Jenny Whelan Cancer BACUP Scotland

David Campbell, spokesman for the New Opportunities Fund in Scotland, said the projects would "make a massive difference to the lives of many people who are touched by cancer".

He added: "By working in partnership with the West of Scotland Regional Cancer Group we know that this money will be delivered across the region to ensure that it makes a difference to those who need it most.

"By funding charities committed to helping hard to reach groups who perhaps haven't previously enjoyed a high level of support we hope that the numbers of people dying from all cancers in all communities will fall here in Scotland."

Deaf Connections are to receive a grant of �526,374 to put together a cancer prevention programme using British Sign Language across the whole of Scotland.

Cancer information

Chief executive Gordon Chapman said: "It is a very sad statistic that in the 21st century, 80% of deaf people who visit a doctor leave the surgery still not knowing what the diagnosis is.

"This is a figure that we are determined to not only significantly reduce, but eventually eradicate."

Jenny Whelan, head of Cancer BACUP Scotland - which will receive �207,095 - added: "This will enable us to reach people throughout Scotland who are affected by cancer, particularly those from minority ethnic groups, those living in rural communities and in disadvantaged inner city areas."

The West of Scotland Regional Cancer Group is led by NHS Greater Glasgow and will receive �2,761,059 to be distributed between 24 projects across the west of the country.