Almost 130 community groups will receive their share of over £109,000 through North Ayrshire Council’s Participatory Budgeting fund.

The fund has awarded 128 groups with part of £109,777 after residents throughout Garnock Valley, Irvine, Kilwinning, the Three Towns, Arran and North Coast, and the Cumbraes cast 9,357 votes.

Two categories were available with 110 groups receiving the Localities fund while 18 groups were successful in securing the Arts & Culture fund.

Councillor Alan Hill, cabinet member for communities and islands, said: “We are absolutely delighted that so many community groups have benefitted in the council’s first round of PB funding for 2023.

“Enabling local people via participatory budgeting is one of the key ways that the council is addressing inequalities.

“Local people know the needs of their communities better than anyone else – this is why they are at the heart of our PB approach.

“Thank you to all who had their say and decided on where the money would be best spent.”

The Localities fund allows groups to earn up to £1,000 while the Arts & Culture fund awards up to £400 per group.

Participatory Budgeting (PB) was first introduced to North Ayrshire in 2016 to let the community decide what groups and projects should receive funding.

The scheme gave way to the Youth PB initiative which allowed 100 groups for people aged 8-25 to receive a share of £56,000 last December.

Councillor Hill added: “I have no doubt that each of the successful applicants will now use their allocation to better their communities and I look forward to seeing how we can work together to develop more opportunities to ‘Shape North Ayrshire’ and build stronger, resilient, and more connected communities.”

Find the full list of groups which have benefitted from the latest round of Participatory Budgeting here: www.northayrshire.communitychoices.scot/2023results.