Community projects in a north-east town have been awarded a share of £100,000.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Your Voice Your Choice scheme concluded yesterday, when groups from across Fraserburgh appealed to the public to vote for them.
The scheme, in its second year, gives local people the power to decide which projects should be funded.
And this year projects including a Sunday school club, badminton classes and a special school were given the nod.
Dr Francesca Lee-Mason won funding last year for Fraserburgh Hospital’s garden.
Speaking to the groups vying for fresh funding at the awards, she said: “Community spirit is fantastic.
“Through your hard work you have given hope – you have given belief to many people.”
A total of 36 groups had applied for a share of the council’s cash.
Projects awarded funding included the town’s sea cadets – which was handed cash to purchase new boats for youngsters – and the town’s secret garden scheme, which will now create a sheltered education area to teach children about growing their own vegetables.
An effort to bring an ice-rink to the town, however, was not funded.
The Festive Frozen Fraserburgh project was kick-started after Christmas celebrations in the port were almost cancelled last year.
A group that had previously organised the town’s late-night shopping and fireworks event collapsed leaving volunteers to step in at the eleventh hour to salvage what they could of the event.
It pulled together a number of local businesses, who were able to organise stalls, but there was no Christmas tree or fireworks celebration.
The town’s Rotary had been asking the public to back its £10,000 effort to bring free ice skating to the town over the winter on Sunday.
The group is currently fundraising for other events to run in the port from December 8 to mark the Yuletide.
Leona Findlay, a member of the group, said: “We want to organise a family event that will leave visitors and locals feeling positive about the town and return to do their shopping, meet for lunch or attend more community events.”
