A BARRHEAD charity has been handed a £4,000 boost for its efforts to help people with additional support needs and disabilities.

The Include Me 2 Club (IM2C) banked the windfall thanks to an agreement between East Renfrewshire Council and construction firm CCG (Scotland) Ltd.

As part of the council’s community benefits scheme, suppliers who win a major contract must agree to help local causes through community enhancement, training and employment opportunities.

Glasgow-based CCG was awarded a contract to build 48 new council houses in Balgraystone Road, Barrhead, and, as part of a wider initiative, to provide two jobs, six work placements and curriculum support for local schools.

Now the team at IM2C will use their £4,000 donation to boost the charity’s digital engagement work.

Paul McIlvenny, IM2C chair, told the Barrhead News: “It’s great to be working alongside East Renfrewshire Council and CCG through their community benefits programme.

“To receive this financial support at a challenging time is crucial to the continued success of the charity as it meets the needs of our members.”

The charity was formed to bring people together and tackle social isolation but found itself in uncharted waters when lockdown arrived.

It had to develop a wider range of online, digital and media options to keep members engaged.

“Our online work is vital to keeping our members involved in activities,” said Paul. “A big thank-you goes to CCG for their donation."

Councillor Danny Devlin, East Renfrewshire’s housing and maintenance services convener, added: “We are committed to ensuring the community benefits from any significant council investment and I am delighted that, alongside delivering more high-quality social housing, we are able to facilitate this donation to the Include Me 2 Club.”