Residents in Largs and surrounding area will be among the first to play an active part in putting a pioneering new fund to good use.

The North Coast and Cumbraes Locality Partnership - which covers Largs, Fairlie, Skelmorlie, Millport and West Kilbride - is inviting local people along to two events later this month to talk about how the fund will work and how it can be used to help communities.

The Community Investment Fund is not a traditional fund which invites submissions for funding. Instead, it identifies priorities for local people and empowers communities to develop their ideas.

The meetings are to be held in the Arran Room at West Kilbride Community Centre between 6pm and 7pm on Tuesday, 20 February, and Wednesday, 21 February.

The first phase of the investment fund will see up to £100,000 committed to meet identified priorities. The Tuesday meeting will look at young people, stress and anxiety, and the Wednesday meeting is looking at older people and isolation.

Councillor Alex Gallagher, Locality Partnership chair, said: "Allowing local people the opportunity to shape projects and investment in their local areas can deliver positive outcomes. After all, it is people living in these communities who know them best."

More can be found at www.northayrshire.community