Energy company SSE’s Hunterston Community Fund has awarded £32,000 to 17 local groups in Largs and Cumbrae during the past year.

The variety of projects supported covered a broad range of themes including boosting tourism, supporting young people, improving community facilities and encouraging people to try new sports.

The Cumbrae W.R.I. Handiwives received £2,000 to buy new equipment to start a new afterschool’s club for both parents and local pupils. The new equipment will allow the group to deliver arts and crafts projects within the local community for at least the next 15 years.

The Largs Viking Festival received £3,000 to ensure the Festival of Fire can be delivered at the 2017 festival. Alex Gallagher, Chair of the Viking Festival Board, said: "The Viking Festival Committee is extremely grateful to SSE for this generous donation.

“We aim to improve the quality of our offering every year, and the money will be used to make the Festival even better this year, in particular it will provide a substantial contribution to the Viking Festival of Fire which will be held on the evening of 9th September with a torchlit parade from the Viking Village to Broomfields for a Viking skirmish, burning of long boat and spectacular fireworks display".

Another project celebrating Largs’ Viking link is the Largs Organic Gardens. The project received £3,000 to help build a fantastic new Viking themed community garden beside Largs Railway Station. This impressive project will provide a new garden and visitor destination for the community. Ann Carson from Largs Organic gardens said: “We are grateful for this much needed funding to build a 13th century Viking themed Community Garden for locals to enjoy.

“This money will help us share the amazing taste of organic grown salads and vegetables as well as teach the health benefits our ancestors used to survive and which have been forgotten. It will provide a new '1263 Battle of Largs' landmark which locals can take pride in and visitors can admire.”

Whilst some project commemorate the past, other projects looked to the future, including Largs Academy Parent Teachers Association which received £1,300 to establish an innovative project which will allow pupils to access their homework via an app on their phone or tablet.

Millport Golf Club received £2,500 to develop a new three hole course which will be built especially for young people – allowing them to get practice and receive coaching. Iain Harrison, a committee member for the golf club, said: “It is important that young people participate in golf - this new facility will be great to teach them the game.”

Cumbrae Primary Mega Club received £2,500 toward the running of a sports club for children aged four to twelve. The funding will include supporting the young people to visit to participate in sailing classes. Lara Crossan from Cumbrae Primary School said: “The funding is a fantastic help and all children from primary one to primary seven will get the chance to benefit from the mega club.”

Lindsay Dougan, SSE’s Community Investment Manager for the Hunterston community fund, said: “It’s fantastic that so many excellent projects have been funded. There are some great community projects underway in Largs and Cumbrae and these funds can make a real difference where it’s needed the most.”