A GARNOCK Valley community magazine has benfitted from a four-figure Scottish Government funding boost.

The Garnock Valley Focus Magazine, put together by the Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club, has received £5,000 as part of The Rural and Island Communities Ideas into Action Fund (RICIA) fund.

The £3 million fund from the Scottish Government aims to encourage and enable community groups to design and deliver innovative solutions to local challenges in rural communities across Scotland.

More than 180 projects across rural Scotland will receive grants ranging from £100,000 to several hundred pounds.

This project in particular aims to produce a local magazine with a focus on historical information, news items, and photographs past and present to encourage rural residents to get more involved in community activities.

Independent councillor for the Garnock Valley Donald L. Reid plays a key role in helping put the magazine together, and was delighted to see the funding granted to the Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club.

Speaking about the magazine on social media, the councillor was keen to get locals to contribute to the free production.

He said: "The deadline for receipt of articles is as soon as practicable and definitely not later than February 1, 2023.

"I would emphasise that contributors should not wait until February 1 as the magazine will need to go to final editing, typesetting and then printing the following week. Put simply, get your copy for inclusion to me ASAP – don’t delay.

"If any individual, group, organisations, schools etc would like to contribute to this magazine – and I hope they do - I will be looking for articles and quality photographs for inclusion. (I'm) Happy to speak to anyone about this.

"The range and variety of articles is down to the contributor, but the theme of Garnock Valley is important in the widest sense.

"Let’s face it, the whole of the Garnock Valley is a rural community with many amazing groups working for community betterment.

"I am also keen to get some articles from the farming and rural community with a feature which might be headed: My Farming Life. Now there’s a challenge!

"Memories of growing up on local farms or rural area would be great and they need only be shortish memory pieces.

"I’m also very keen to get contributions from young folk and it can be on any issue they wish to write about. Up for the challenge? Get scribbling as time is rushing on far too fast!

"Please do consider this and get scribbling or do get in touch."

Contributors can contact Donald by calling 07976 654833, writing to him at 7 Manuel Avenue, Beith KA15 1BJ, or emailing donaldleesreid@hotmail.com.

Elsewhere, the nearby Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust also secured RICIA funding for their Lochwinnoch Warm Spaces Network.

Their award of £22,581 will be used to create a series of three-hour sessions at six venues across Lochwinnoch, offering 360 hours of warm spaces.

Each venue will have a warm spaces facilitator, who will offer a warm welcome to those attending and provide activities and conversation.