Community projects in Garioch have been awarded a share of £35,000.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Your Voice Your Choice gave local residents the chance to nominate projects to receive a slice of the funding.
This year, social projects including the Inverurie Men’s Shed, the Westhill Men’s Shed and Foos yer Doos were given the nod.
A total of 16 groups had applied for a share of the council’s cash with 11 successfully being awarded funds.
Receiving the most votes was the Gordon Riding for the Disabled who received £3,500.
Last night trustee Jolyon Robinson said: “We are delighted to receive this award and also to have gained the most votes. The money will be spent on maintaining two of our ponies for a year.”
The group is currently fully subscribed with 70 riders using the Keithall facility and has a waiting list of disabled riders from all over the Garioch area.
SensationALL in Westhill received £5,000 which they will put towards upgrading their outdoor space and start to create a sensory garden.
Operational team leader Suz Strachan last night said: “It’s brilliant, we have been very fortunate recently. It will go towards our upgrading and refurbishment which includes creating a sensory garden.”
The Foos yer Doos Sing Song Club meets weekly in Inverurie on a drop-in basis for anyone living with a neurological condition such as dementia, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease or stroke.
Diane Miller, who helps run the club said the money would keep them going for another year, adding: “We were over the moon to receive the funding.
Also successful was the Bennachie Leisure Centre, the Garioch Links Cafe, Go Dynamix, Kellands Primary School, Peer Support Group Inverurie, The Clachan.
Garioch community planning officer Jill Sowden last night said: “We are delighted that so many community groups in Garioch came forward with creative and innovative projects to help us address our locally identified priorities of reducing social isolation and promoting inclusion.
“We had 562 people who voted and we would like to thank them and all the groups involved for taking part in this new and exciting initiative.”