A PROJECT which gave communities the power to decide which worthy causes in their area should benefit from council cash has been hailed as “a shining success.”

Events were held in Barrhead, Thornliebank and Neilston as part of East Renfrewshire Council’s Participatory Budgeting initiative.

Community groups, voluntary projects and non-profit organisations had the opportunity to bid for a share of a £100,000 cash pot and present the projects that would be supported if they were successful.

READ MORE: Creative Barrhead schoolgirl delivers success in baby box design contest​

Local residents were then asked to cast their votes for different bidders.

The group with the highest number of votes at each event received the funding amount they had bid for, the group with the second highest number of votes was then provided with funding, with this continuing until all of the cash was accounted for.

A total of 28 groups were successful at the Barrhead and Auchenback event.

The top awards of £2,000 each went to Counselling for Children and Young People, Barrhead Boxing Club, Levern Valley Defibrillator Community Partnership, Dunterlie Foodshare, Back to School Bank East Renfrewshire, Weigh in Weigh less, Auchenback Active Limited, Barrhead Men’s Shed, Include Me 2 Club, Tuesday Friendship Club, Dunterlie Exercise Club, 1st Barrhead Boys Brigade, Waterworks Voluntary Group and East Renfrewshire ASN Parent Action Group.

There were also grants for the Golden Age Group (£1,802), Barrhead Youth Football Club (£1,460), Dunterlie Baby and Toddler Group (£1,950), Incahootz (£1,922), Barrhead Netball BBN (£1,481), 1st Barrhead Scout Group (£600), ARC Baby and Toddler Group (£1,600), Auchenback Walking Group (£1,000), St Mark’s Primary Parenting Partnership (£1,990), Tight Lines Fishing (£1,950), Dunterlie Holiday Activities Partnership (£1,560), Darnley Brae (£1,820), Levern Camera Club (£1,113) and Barrhead Artists (£1,752).

At the Thornliebank event, 12 groups received funding, with awards of £2,500 being made to Thornliebank Flute Band, Woodfarm Education Centre, Thornliebank Bowling Club, Thornliebank History Club, Back to Schoolbank East Renfrewshire and the OLM Parent Council and Staff Association.

READ MORE: Caring cabbie scoops national award for going extra mile to help veterans

There were also grants for Glenwood Family Centre Parent Committee (£2,456), the 144th Glasgow Guide Company (£2,350), Thornliebank Seniors Group (£1,716), Thornliebank Fishing Club (£1,716), Our Lady of the Mission Primary (£1,500) and the 94th Glasgow Beavers (£260).

Seven groups were successful at the Neilston event, with the 1st Neilston Cub Scouts, Neilston Wasps and Neilston War Memorial Association each banking £5,000.

There were also awards for the Neilston Learning Campus Group (£4,452), Include Me 2 Club (£4,248), Neilston Community Fun Day (£1,000) and Neilston Parish Church (£300).

Councillor Colm Merrick, community services and community safety convener, said: “It was wonderful to see so many local groups and residents turn out for the voting events. It’s so important they are given the opportunity to decide how their budget is spent.”