Residents decide how £100,000 will be spent in their communities

Barrhead, Auchenback, Thornliebank and Neilston all received £25,000 each as part of the Participatory Budgeting process run by the council.

Barrhead and Auchenback hosted a joint event on Saturday, March 16, with Thornliebank also hosting their voting event on the same day. Neilston held their own event on Saturday, March 23.

Community groups, volunteer groups and non-profit organisations that operate in the local area had the opportunity to bid for funding and present the projects that would be funded if they were awarded a percentage of the budget.

Local residents were given the opportunity to cast their votes for different bidders. The group with the highest number of votes 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 the £25,000 was accounted for.

Councillor Colm Merrick, Convener for Community Services and Community Safety, said: “It was wonderful to see so many local groups and residents turn out for the voting events.

“This is the second year that we have held Participatory Budgeting events in East Renfrewshire and they are clearly gaining popularity and helping the local communities fund local projects.

“It’s so important for local communities to be supported and given the opportunity to decide how their budget is spent, because they are the people who know best what their area needs.

“I can’t wait to see the groups using their funding to deliver their projects and the positive impact they will undoubtedly have in their local communities.”

A total of 38 groups bid at the Barrhead and Auchenback event with 28 groups successfully gaining funding. The Thornliebank event attracted 20 groups with 12 groups receiving funding. Seven groups out of 23 were awarded funding at the Neilston event.

The successful groups are:

Barrhead

Counselling for Children and Young People – £2,000; Barrhead boxing Club – £2,000; Levern Valley Defibrillator Community Partnership – £2,000; Golden Age Group – £1,802; Barrhead Youth Football Club – £1,460; Dunterlie Foodshare – £2000; Dunterlie Baby and Toddler group – £1,950; Back to school bank East Renfrewshire – £2,000; Incahootz – £1,922; Barrhead Men’s Shed – £2,000; Barrhead Netball BBN – £1,481; Include Me 2 Club – £2,000; 1st Barrhead Scout Group – £600;

Tuesday Friendship Club – £2,000; Dunterlie Exercise Club – £2,000; Arc baby and toddler group – £1,600; Auchenback Walking Group – £1,000; St. Marks Primary Parenting Partnership – £1,990; ‘Tight Lines’ Fishing Group – £1,950; Weigh in, weigh less – £2000; Dunterlie Holiday Activities Partnership – £1,560; 1st Barrhead Boys Brigade – £2000; Darnley Brae – £1,820; Waterworks Voluntary Group – £2,000; ERA – East Renfrewshire ASN Parent Action Group – £2,000; Auchenback Active Limited – £2,000; The Levern Camera Club – £1,113; Barrhead Artists – £1,752

Thornliebank

Thornliebank Seniors Group – £1,716; Thornliebank Fishing Club – £1,716; Thornliebank Flute Band – £2,500; Glenwood Family Centre Parent Committee – £2,456; Woodfarm Education Centre – £2,500; Our Lady of the Mission Primary School – £1,500; Thornliebank Bowling Club – £2,500; 94th Glasgow Beavers – £260; Thornliebank History Club – £2,500; Back to Schoolbank East Renfrewshire – £2,500; 144th Glasgow Guide Company – £2,350; OLM Parent Council and Staff Association – £2,500.

Neilston

1st Neilston Cub Scouts – £5,000; Neilston Community Fun Day – £1,000; Neilston Wasp – £5,000; Include Me 2 Club – £4,248; Neilston War Memorial Association – £5,000; Neilston Parish Church – £300; Neilston Learning Campus Fundraising Group – £4,452.