A CHARITY for terminally ill young people has been awarded more than £720,000 in Lottery cash to help those who outlive their diagnosis.

The Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) has taken a decision not to continue to provide care for young people aged 21 and over, who began receiving help from the charity when they were still children.

Those over 21 who use its hospices, Rachel House and Robin House, or at-home services in Aberdeen and Inverness have been told they will have to move to adult services, but with a three-year grace period to find suitable adult support.

The Big Lottery Fund grant will pay for a new transition team which will support young adults as they move into age appropriate services.

Maria McGill, chief executive of Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), said: "The funding allows CHAS to be with the young people during the process, helping to explain changes and supporting them as appropriate."

However it remains unclear what suitable services exist, with most adult hospices designed for a much older population.

Robert Watson, 29, from Renfrew, has had support from CHAS for 17 years.

He said: "Whilst the start of the transition team's work means the beginning of the countdown to the deadline when we will no longer be able to use CHAS's services, I am hopeful they will be able to help support us in finding somewhere suitable to move on to."