The funding up to March 2022 will support projects promoting health and wellbeing, digital inclusion, and community food hubs and larders.

Lorne Campbell, the Association’s chair, commented: “With this Recovery Fund Grant we will be able to continue supporting local groups enhancing youth services, youth clubs, play schemes, family fun days, gym sessions and digital drop-in centres. The money will also support work with food hubs, supporting more than 3000 vulnerable residents as we recover from the pandemic.

Heather McEwan from Create a Smile Scotland (CASS), one of the organisation’s benefitting from the new grant, commented: “This new round of funding will allow us to work on getting our groups back together again!

“We’re going to be running a small social enterprise with some of our groups, which will allow them to get together at CASS Corner and give them something to look forward to each week. We will also be working with other community partners to host tea dances for individuals in our communities facing social isolation.

“The funding will also help fund wellbeing packs at Christmas for those who attend the CASS Christmas Day Dinner. This funding will help us to create smiles throughout our local communities!”

In its role as a community anchor, the Association has previously secured £105,000 of Scottish Government grant funding working with community groups to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in East Ayrshire.