Around £20,000 has been handed out to groups to support food-based initiatives across North Ayrshire.

Nineteen community projects shared a total of £19,161 last week after being chosen by the public at the recent Fairer Food participatory budgeting event held at Eglinton Park, Kilwinning.

Irvine Neighbourhood Youth Forum received £1,250 to continue their Redburn-based breakfast club, PRYDE The Playz received £1,000 for its plans to help feed whole families in Pennyburn and North Ayrshire Foodbank received1,000.

Around 400 residents came along to the event to hear more about the shortlisted initiatives before voting for their favourites, with an impressive 338 votes being cast on the day.

The participatory budgeting process, which kicked off earlier this year, invited individuals and groups to bid for up to £1,250 to help fund initiatives that improve access to food in communities.

Those attending enjoyed cooking demonstrations by Centrestage, a food growing workshop with Eglinton Growers, a Bling it Bike arts and crafts session with the Active Travel team, guided walks with the Countryside Rangers, multisports activities from KA Leisure andilent disco.

Councillor Louise McPhater, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “We have many fantastic community groups and projects running some amazing food-based initiatives, and we are thrilled to be able to contribute.”

The successful bids were: Castlepark Early Years Centre £1,000, North Ayrshire Foodbank £1,000, Centrestage Communities Ltd £1,250, North Ayrshire Women’s Aid £910, Café Solace £1,192.80, The Ayrshire Community Trust - Eglinton Community Garden £1,155, Irvine Neighbourhood Youth Forum £1,250, Pennyburn Regeneration Youth Development Enterprise £1,000, Kilwinning Academy Parent Council £1,200, Dalry Community Sports Club £1,000, The Oasis £1,250, Stevenston North Community Association £1,250, St Palladius Parent Council £1,000, Evolution Skatepark Scotland £1,000, Saltcoats Link Up Cooking Group £618, North Ayrshire Champions Board £618, FRIENDS £618, Largs Foodbank £600. Woodside Arran CIC £1,250