Largs Academy, Cumbrae Sail and Oar Festival and Barrfields Theatre are among the first local groups to secure grants from the SSE Hunterston community fund.
The fund is provided as part of the construction of SSE’s Hunterston Offshore Turbine Test facility and is worth £50,000 annually for the local area.
£20,000 has been made available in the first round of funding for charitable projects in the council areas of Cumbrae, Fairlie, Largs and West Kilbride.
Over the five year lifespan of the scheme £250,000 will be invested in local projects.
An impressive range of applications were received from the Largs and Cumbrae community in this initial round of funding.
Successful submissions included £3,000 to the Barrfields Theatre Group to purchase new LED stage lighting, £1,000 towards the Haylie House ‘peace garden’ project and £2,000 for new Duke of Edinburgh equipment at Largs Academy.
Cumbrae Coastal Rowing Club and the Cumbrae Sail and Oar Festival were both successful in awards. The Firth of Clyde Coastal Rowing Club, who built their first St.Ayles Skiff the ‘Saltire’ this year, received £1,500 towards a skiff trailer, lifejackets and waterproof radios.
Hugh Maclean from the Firth of Clyde Coastal Rowing Club said: “We are extremely grateful for our recent grant from the Hunterston Community Fund.
“The purchase of the new equipment will give us the capacity to expand our activities and to represent the Firth of Clyde area at national events. The skiff project has brought local people from different generations together and has given the young people a constructive and healthy activity to get involved in.”
Ciara Wilson, SSE’s Community Investment Advisor for the Hunterston community fund, said: “It’s fantastic that the fund has been so well received in its first round. The quality of the applications has been of a high standard and there’s evidently some great community projects underway in Largs and Cumbrae.
“The next deadline for applications is 28th March 2014 and we’re keen to see more local projects coming forward. These funds can make a real difference where it’s needed the most.”