Communities in Aberdeen and Moray have been given a £1.5million cash boost to help improve where they live.
The Community Choices Fund targets deprived areas in Scotland, allowing residents make decisions on how the money should be spent.
For the first time community groups, as well as public authorities, have been able to apply for funding.
More than 100 applications were received with funding awarded to 16 successful community projects and 12 public authorities across Scotland.
These include The Joint Community Councils of Moray which received £46,500 to use the Community Choices process to help tackle social isolation.
Aberdeen City Council was also awarded £100,000 to target the city’s eight most deprived areas.
Local Government and Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said the government wanted to give communities more control to shape their futures.
He added: “I am delighted to see communities applying for Community Choices funding and to read about the innovative and creative ways communities are working to address the issues that are important to the people in their community.
“The Community Choices Fund offers an opportunity for decisions to be made by people in their local communities who are best placed to know what their community needs.”
