GOOD causes were quids in as Neilston hosted a community funding event.

Saturday’s gathering was one of three organised by East Renfrewshire Council as part of its ‘participatory budgeting’ programme, with others having taken place in Barrhead and Thornliebank.

A total of 22 groups were represented at the Glen Hall, where they presented their ideas on how funding should be spent, with residents then getting the chance to vote on which worthy causes they wanted to support.

Seven winners were chosen to share a funding pot of £25,000, with Neilston Cub Scouts, Neilston Wasps and Neilston War Memorial Association each banking £5,000. Others to benefit were Neilston Learning Campus Group (£4,452), the Include Me 2 Club (£4,248), Neilston Community Fun Day (£1,000) and Neilston Parish Church (£300).

A council spokesman said: “These events are a chance for residents to take control and decide on how money gets spent in their locality.”