A COMMUNITY foodshare project that made a plea for donations recently has been boosted after it was revealed it will receive £11,000 in emergency funding.

West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare was one of a number of community groups that is now set to benefit from funding from West Dunbartonshire Council totalling more than £35,000.

Each year the Council provides funding to West Dunbartonshire Community Volunteer Services (WDCVS) which is then available for community groups to apply for.

Due to the success of gaining a number of external grants during the last financial year there is a surplus of unused funds of £35,545.

In previous years this would have been returned to the council but at a meeting last Wednesday an emergency motion was put forward to distribute the money to a number of groups in West Dunbartonshire who had made direct requests to West Dunbartonshire Council recently for financial help.

The other groups benefitting from the surplus funding are; Music Therapy Service which has been granted £10,00 to allow its service to continue with no cost to parents whose children it provides service to; community groups in Dalmoach, who will receive a total of £4,000 which will help cover costs incurred by them such as travel, due to the closure of the community centre – until the new centre is built; and Vale of Leven Hospital Save our Services campaign group have received £545 to help support their continuing campaign. Established elderly organisations in West Dunbartonshire will also share £10,000.

Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, who put forward the motion last Wednesday night, said: "Community groups play an important role in shaping our area and I am delighted that the Council has been able to support these requests which have been made. It is essential that we continue to promote independence for our older residents, so supporting elderly organisations to further expand the activities they offer will help to achieve this. It is also pleasing that the Council will now be able to offer support to the groups who will need to continue using temporary accommodation until the new £1.15m Dalmonach Community Centre and nursery is built."

West Dunbartonshire Council leader Martin Rooney, said: "The council is committed to improving the wellbeing of our communities and by ensuring that these funds are directed to organisations which need them is helping to do just that. It is also pleasing that the Music Therapy Service will now be able to continue at no cost to parents, as this service is a huge support to the families who use it."