The September meeting of the Community Grants Fund sub-committee awarded 100 groups a share of the funding.

The fund allows the council to provide financial support to a variety of community, sport, music, arts and voluntary groups.

Interested groups were invited to apply for up to £10,000 across three categories: facilities/core costs; project costs and fee waivers.

One of the successful recipients is Cycling Without Age Gourock which received £876.75 towards operating costs for its trishaws.

Siobhan Mahon is the support services manager for River Clyde Homes which runs the project in partnership with the charity Cycling Without Age. She said: “This funding is essential in helping to deliver Cycling Without Age trishaws to Inverclyde, where they provide invaluable support to the elderly and those with mobility challenges.

“It has been a great success so far, and the positive impact has been clear. The social interaction fostered by these rides significantly improves the physical and mental well-being of those taking part, and we’re delighted to continue to support the project.”

The Inverclyde Tourist Group (ITG) received £2,000 towards the purchase of IT equipment, running costs and creating a new website.

Chair of the ITG, Cecile Fleming, added: “We’re very pleased with this award as it will help ITG to develop and share on-line resources that will help us promote Inverclyde to all visitors to Inverclyde as a great place to explore our history and heritage.”

Chair of the Community Grants Fund Committee, Councillor Graeme Brooks, commented: “It is always a difficult decision to decide the funding but we are delighted to be able to help so many groups.

“We were asked for more than £856,000 so it’s a difficult decision for myself and my colleagues on the grants sub-committee and once again I thank them for their diligence and hard work on this.

“The long list of recipients shows how many groups are out there in Inverclyde working hard for everyone in our community. I am confident these grants will help these groups continue their good work.”