Ayrshire Housing always supports charities at this time of the year which complement its own community and housing work.

It is once again giving to Ayr homelessness charity Care and Share, and the South Ayrshire Foodbank. This year, the Association is also donating to several smaller charities who may otherwise miss out on funding.

These are Ayrshire Cancer Support, Gardenrose Early Years Centre, South Ayrshire Befriending Project, Girvan Youth Trust, Wheels in Motion, Ayr Action for Mental Health, and the Elba Gardens Hostel, Ayr.

A donation to Dailly Primary School is also being made. The artwork of one of their P1 pupils features on the Christmas card that is being sent to each of the association’s 1,500 tenants. The pupils will officially open the association’s latest development in their village on 15 January.

The awards were announced at the South Ayrshire Befriending Project.

Board member Mike Tomlinson said: “This worthwhile project supports socially isolated children. Kids vote on what they would like to do for their Christmas treat – this year they want to go to the panto at Ayr’s Gaiety. Our donation helps them to take 30 kids plus their befrienders to a see Cinderella. The project heard of Ayrshire Housing through some of the children they support. We are pleased that the £3,000 that we have pledged is supporting such a wide range of good causes – all of which have volunteering at their core.”