NINE community organisations around the Wee County have been successful in securing investment worth £75,000 to support their work.

The groups attended an investment day organised by Clackmannanshire Council’s Family Wellbeing Partnership alongside The Lens

Among those chosen for funding were Forth Valley Sensory Centre, Parachute, Staying Connected, All Year Round Uniform Bank, Shoulder to Shoulder, Connecting New Spaces, Common Ground, Team Park and Alloa Community Empowerment.

The event was held at Alloa Town Hall and was opened by Council leader Ellen Forson, who spoke about the importance of funding community groups.

She said: “This funding will give these groups a chance to make a real difference on the ground in their own communities.

“It’s vitally important that groups and communities are empowered to effect change in this way,, after all they know their area and the issues it faces best.

“This Intrapreneurship Programme has been a great success and will surely create tangible and long lasting changes that will have a positive impact on families throughout Clackmannanshire.”

The funding will be used to help fund a range of projects including support services for refugees within Clacks, developing outdoor spaces for people with dementia and offering support to those with sight-impairment.

Lynne O’Brien, director of programmes for The Lens, said: “We’d like to congratulate all those who presented their ideas.

“Their hard work and dedication have really shone through, and we’re delighted that they now have an opportunity to make their ideas a reality, improving the lives of local families in Clackmannanshire.”