A WIDE range of groups and organisations across Barrhead and Neilston are quids in after sharing a bumper payout from a renewable energy fund.

Scouts and Boys’ Brigade groups, community gardeners and bowlers are among those celebrating as a result of a windfall totalling £200,000.

The money has come from the East Renfrewshire Renewable Energy Fund (ERREF), which superseded the Whitelee Wind Farm Fund in 2016.

ScottishPower Renewables provides the cash, which is administered by East Renfrewshire Council for the benefit of local communities.

Applications to the fund are considered by a ERREF panel made up of three councillors and the chief executive of Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire.

However, as well as winners, a number of organisations lost out in their request for support in the latest round of funding.

These included Neilston Community Council, who had asked for £55,628 for a toddlers’ play area at Kingston Park.

This was refused due to the large sum requested and because there was a lack of other match funding.

Applications totalling £400,000 were received, but only £200,000 was available.

Among those who were successful in their applications was the Barrhead Community Sport Hub, which receives £26,000 to pay for a minbus.

Sykes Terrace and Hamilton Place Residents’ Association, in Neilston, has been awarded £8,500 to buy equipment for a community garden.

There are also grants for the 121st Glasgow (Clarkston) Scout Group, which gets £20,000 towards the cost of a minibus, and the 28th Glasgow (Giffnock) Scout Group, which receives £12,500 to renovate their club’s toilet facilities.

A £10,000 grant will pay for stabilisation work at Mearns Kirk, while the Busby-based St Joseph’s Parent Council receives £17,000 for playground improvements.

Auchenback Active Ltd, which is based in Barrhead, receives £20,000 to carry out energy efficiency work at Auchenback Resource Centre.

And the Carolside Parent-Teacher Association, in Clarkston, has been awarded £18,000 for a PA system, mobile stage, sports equipment and cooking stations.

Also celebrating are Busby Bowling Club, which banks almost £13,000 for improvements to windows and the heating system, and the Mearns Kirk Helping Hands project, which collects £33,000 to buy a minibus, furniture and office equipment.

The fund will reopen for new applications in the summer, with grants to be awarded in October or November.

For information, call Sharon McMurtrie on 0141 577 3051.