Good causes across East Renfrewshire are quids in after sharing a bumper payout from a renewable energy fund.
Sports clubs and church congregations 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The money has come from the East Renfrewshire Renewable Energy Fund (ERREF), which superseded the Whitelee Wind Farm Fund in 2016.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 are invited annually from organisations across the area and are then considered by a panel that includes four councillors and the chief executive of Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire.
This year, grants have been awarded to Williamwood Parish Church, Lodge St John Busby, Busby Community Council, Glasgow Hutchesons’ Aloysians RFC, Eaglesham Bowling Club, Mearns Bowling Club, Whitecraigs Lawn Tennis and Sports Club, Uplawmoor Development Trust, TREE (The Regeneration of Eaglesham’s Environment), Young Enterprise Scotland and Age Concern Eastwood.
The grants, ranging from £3,000 to £30,000, will allow the groups to make upgrades to heating systems, improve disabled access, carry out repairs, create a multi-use games area and purchase a minibus.
Chair of the funding panel, Councillor Alan Lafferty, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many community groups from across the authority benefitting from this year’s fund.
“Grants have been awarded to a diverse range of projects – with everything from an upgrade to a children’s play area to a new training facility included.
“Many of the projects have already kicked off and it’s great to see the progress being made. I look forward to seeing all of the projects take shape over the coming year.”
The fund will reopen for new applications this summer.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here