ELDERLY groups in Millport, West Kilbride and Skelmorlie will be able to host Christmas meal events for pensioners thanks to an annual grant from North Ayrshire Council.

A grant allocation of £13,766 is being divided throughout the district and will benefit senior citizen groups in the area.

The applications were head at last month's North Coast Locality meeting involving ward councillors Alan Hill (chair), Ian Murdoch, Todd Ferguson, Tom Marshall and Eleanor Collier.

The Cumbrae Forum applied for £979 to provide a Christmas lunch for approximately 80 members free of charge and also to assist in arranging a Christmas shopping bus trip.

The Skelmorlie Senior Citizens group applied for £1,488 for a Christmas party for around 90 residents of the community, consisting of a three course meal, entertainment, refreshments and will cover the cost of stationery and postage for invites.

The organisers say that the event 'embraces health and wellbeing as an opportunity for friends to meet up both old and new'.

Community Roots with Age Well in West Kilbride applied for £2,623 for a Christmas meal for 200 older people.

The costs will assist with transport to Christmas meal, accessible taxis, advertising posters and tickets, as well as venue hire and catering.

Other beneficiaries from the grant allocation include the Age Concern group in Largs, who run the AD Cameron Centre in Lade Street, who applied for £7,339.

The A.D. Cameron Centre provides a range of facilities for people aged 60 years and over who are resident within Largs.  

The Centre is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and during this time provides a 'drop in centre' for both members and visitors, with a host of activities taking place including keep fit, bingo and film nights.

The Fairlie Old Folks welfare committee applied for £1,366 to assist with the running costs of The Semple Centre to provide a safe, comfortable space for the elderly to meet, socialise and pursue various activities.