TWENTY-ONE community groups in Helensburgh and Lomond are set to do battle for a slice of more than £28,000 in council funding when a public vote goes live next month.

The groups have put forward proposals including support for the Bicentenary Pipe Band Championships in Helensburgh, for a digital archive to share stories about those named on Helensburgh’s war memorial, for a job club to help Navy spouses searching for work, and for the Rosneath Peninsula Highland Gathering.

Earlier this year, local groups and organisations posted their project ideas on a website created specifically for the fund, of how they could use potential funding of up to £2,500 per project idea to benefit the local community.

Other groups hoping to secure a share of the cash in Helensburgh and Lomond include Enable Scotland, the Arrochar and Tarbet Community Development Trust, and Helensburgh Heroes.

Now residents are being given the chance to vote for which projects they would like the money to go towards.

People can vote for as many projects as they like, up to the total value of funding available in their area, when the website goes live on April 3.

The 21 applicants, their proposals and the amount of money they've applied for are as follows...

1 – Arrochar and Tarbet Community Development Trust (Cobbler Climbers) – Equipment for a new climbing club for young people in the Arrochar area. Applied for £2,000

2 – Arrochar and Tarbet Community Development Trust (Generation Communities) - To support the general running and activities of an intergenerational group in the Arrochar area. Applied for £1,703

3 – Bicentenary Pipe Band Championships Committee - Contribution towards running the annual Bicentenary Pipe Band Championships. Applied for £2,500

4 – Colgrain Primary School Parent Teacher Council (Colgrain Primary School Community Garden) - Tools, plants and storage to allow the school to open up the garden area for use by the wider community. Applied for £600

5 – Cove and Kilcreggan Lunch Club - Funds towards the general running of the lunch club, including transportation for members, a Christmas party and summer outing. Applied for £1,150

6 – Cove and Kilcreggan Youth Cafe - Contribution towards the cost of employing a trained youth worker for the Cove and Kilcreggan Youth Café. Applied for £2,500

7 – ENABLE Scotland (Jean’s Bothy Community Health Hub Courses) - To fund courses for the volunteers and staff members at Jean's Bothy Mental Health Hub to run the members' café and support therapeutic activities. Applied for £2,210

8 – Friends of Hermitage Park Association (Helensburgh War Memorial Families Project) - To create a digital archive and book, to share stories about the lives of those named on the Helensburgh War memorial. Applied for £2,500

9 – Gareloch Riding for the Disabled Association - For the upkeep of two horses for use by some of the smaller children who have physical and/or learning difficulties. Applied for £2,092

10 – Geilston Hall Management Committee (Argyll’s Charles Rennie Mackintosh Trail) - To support children in Cardross to research and display the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh in the Geilston Hall. Applied for £750

11 – Helensburgh and Lomond Autism - To provide cooking and independent living skills workshops for children and young people affected with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Applied for £1,794

12 – Helensburgh and Lomond Foodbank - To source and deliver advice and guidance to clients in poverty, to enable them to maximise their income and develop a personal action plan out of poverty. Applied for £2,000

13 – Helensburgh Community Council (Helensburgh 20/20 – a Vision for a Town Embarking Upon Change) - To create a Community Action Plan for a comprehensive vision for how the community wants to develop and improve the town. Applied for £2,500

14 – Helensburgh Community Council (John Logie Baird Innovation Hub) - To fund a feasibility study and business plan for the creation of an Innovation hub in Helensburgh. Applied for £2,500

15 – Helensburgh Heroes –To develop and produce teaching resource packs and activity sheets, for use by schools and visitors to the Helensburgh Heroes Centre. Applied for £2,000

16 – Kirkmichael Community Development Group (Kirkmichael Meet and Eat Lunch Club) – Running costs of the lunch club, including transport for members, outings and a Christmas party. Applied for £2,500

17 – Loch Long Jetty Association (Loch Long Pontoon) – To obtain a marine licence in order to support a pontoon and visitor moorings. Applied for £2,025

18 – Recruit for Spouses CiC (Recruit for Spouses Helensburgh Job Club) – Costs associated with the provision of support and advice to Navy spouses searching for work. Applied for £2,500

19 – Rhu and Shandon Community Centre (Family Activities for 2018) – To run family events and activities at the Community Centre, including a Treasure hunt, Autumn Adventure and Burns Supper. Applied for £570

20 – Rosneath Peninsula Highland Gathering – Contribution towards running the annual Rosneath Peninsula Highland Gathering. Applied for £2,500

21 – Route 81 Youth Project, Garelochhead –The provision of free Friday night diversionary activities for 11-18 year olds. Applied for £2,500

Argyll and Bute Council’s policy lead for communities, Councillor Robin Currie said: “This is a unique opportunity for people to vote for projects that could make a huge difference to communities across Argyll and Bute.”

“It’s a chance for residents to stand up and have a say on what the Supporting Communities Fund will be spent on in their area and I would urge them not to miss out on this opportunity.”

The online vote runs from April 3-30 at abpb.argyll-bute.gov.uk. Drop-in sessions are also being held throughout April at the following places, dates and times.

Helensburgh Lomond and Civic Centre – Wednesday, April 4 from 2-5pm and Tuesday, April 17 from 9.30am-12.30pm.

Luss Village Hall – Tuesday, April 10 from 10am-noon.

Cove Burgh Hall – Thursday, April 12 from 2-4pm.

Gibson Hall, Garelochhead – Tuesday, 24 April from 10am-noon and Tuesday, April 17 from 6-8pm.

Geilston Hall, Cardross – Friday, April 13 from 10am-noon.

Rhu and Shandon Community Centre – Monday April 16 from 2-5pm.

* A full list of the projects can be found on the Advertiser website.