The cash from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge fund goes to the Leamy Foundation’s Carbon Sprouts project at St Mungo’s Episcopal Church in the town.

The beginnings of a community garden has been set up in the church grounds with money from the Scottish Episcopal Church and Rev Kenny Macaulay said the £63,649 funding boost will help the project get off the ground and enable them to employ a full time staff member.

The idea for the garden came about after discussion with people using foodbanks who were interested in trying to grow their own food.

People involved in the project visited Concrete Garden at St Matthew’s Church in Possilpark, Glasgow, to get more ideas.

The therapeutic garden at St Mungo’s will promote growing food and reducing food waste and include a community allotment.

In the future the project organisers hope to get agencies working with people with mental health problems to get involved with the garden as a form of therapy.

Kevin Mason, of West Dunbartonshire organisation the Leamy Foundation, said: “The idea came from foodshare groups and conversations about some of their needs and talking about education and about knowing how food can be grown.

“It will be a therapeutic garden in the grounds of St Mungo’s. There will be a small community allotment for growing vegetables and fruit and we’ll also be able to use the kitchen facilities and the church hall.

“As well as people coming along from the local community using it for growing veg we’ll also be working with different community groups on growing projects.” He said they are currently working with the local Girl Guides group on growing Mediterranean style vegetables such as chilis and peppers used from the greenhouses at Bellsmyre Community Garden.

Rev Macaulay said: “I’m delighted we’ve got the money because it means we start officially. We’ve already got lots of agencies in Alexandria and beyond who are very interesting in working with us.

“It’s about bringing the community into the garden and helping them connect again with the fact that we can grow our own food.

“Part of it will be teaching people to use the food that they are growing to make soup and make meals from stuff they have grown themselves.” The project was one of 26 schemes across Scotland to receive a share of £1.69million from the fund.

Climate Change Minister Dr McLeod said: “Climate change impacts on every person on the planet and I know that the projects announced today will make a real and lasting difference at a local level. We all have our part to play in tackling climate change and I welcome the efforts being made by hundreds of communities the length and breadth of Scotland to tackle the impacts of a changing climate within their areas.”