VOTING among young people in North Ayrshire is now open as 200 clubs, projects and community groups in the area hope to capture a share of a cash pot worth more than £50,000.

People aged 8 to 25 can vote in North Ayrshire Council’s Young People’s Participatory Budgeting scheme until 12 noon on Thursday, December 1 on the Young Scot website.

A total of £56,000 is available from the fund and will be allocated according to the backing each applicant receives in the public vote.

However, the total funding available is significantly less than it was last year, when almost 100 youth projects received a share of £97,500.

Councillor Alan Hill, North Ayrshire Council's cabinet member for islands and communities, said: “This year, we are ready to hopefully receive more votes than ever before - as we have received a staggering 200 applications from eligible groups looking for their chance to secure their share of our Youth PB funding.

“Our young people know better than anyone else which projects will be the most beneficial to them in their local communities, so it is only fair that they have the final say on how this money is spent.

“It has been fantastic to see our young people benefit from the scheme, and we look forward to this year’s results and the positive outcomes that this funding will bring to an array of amazing youth-focused projects across the area.”

Each project or group focuses on the themes of health and wellbeing, poverty and inequality, voice and participation, climate change.

Due to a small number of applications from projects and groups in Arran, each applicant on the island will receive their funding – meaning young people in this area do not need to vote.

Last year 4,726 young people had their say in a similar vote.

Young people can access the voting platform by using their Young Scot Card or by obtaining a temporary code by emailing youthpb@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.