More than £357,000 of a government grant was given out by mistake by a Black Country council to 12 organisations, it has emerged today.

The groups were told they could have cash by Walsall Council when the money was not available.

Officers mis-calculated a £7 million Supporting People grant aimed at helping the vulnerable improve their quality of life.

It meant the organisations were given the go-ahead for grants to start their programmes and schemes when the cash was not there.

Eight had not made financial commitments, but four had – and were given the money to carry on.

Councillor Barbara McCracken told a meeting of the full council yesterday officers involved told her as soon as they discovered the error, and that eight of the organisations had not made any financial commitments based on the grants.

“Those who had not made any commitments based on this grant were advised of the mistake. Four had [made financial commitments] and the Supporting People programme honoured that commitment.”

She said the total loss for these services was more than £183,000.

The groups involved have not yet been made public.