NORTH Ayrshire clubs have been awarded community-based cash boosts from the National Lottery Awards for All Scotland.

The awards provide grants from £500 to £10,000 with funds raised by the National Lottery and sportscotland.

Glencairn Fitness Centre in Stevenston was awarded £10,000 to purchase additional cardio machinery and North Ayrshire Amateur Swimming Club (NAASC) was allocated £6,350 for synchronised swimming equipment.

Stuart Commins, chairperson at NAASC, said: “We were delighted at the grant.

“It’s for the development of a synchro section. We affiliated recently with Garnock Synchronised Swimming session because they wanted to compete at competition level.”

Bert Payne from Glencairn Fitness Centre added: “We’re glad we got the grant. It’s for machinery.”

Another club that will benefit from the funding is Sporting Pathways Scotland, which aims to deliver sessions in Irvine, Saltcoats, Stevenson and Kilwinning.

The club has been allocated £4,827 to launch a schools taster programme in Irvine to help provide young people with sporting opportunities.

Irvine Magnum Badminton was also awarded £4,827 to provide coaching to five local schools.

Stewart Harris, Chief Executive at sportscotland, said: “Almost £4 million of National Lottery Awards for All Scotland funding announced through this initiative will make a huge difference to local groups.”