North Ayrshire groups will receive a bumper funding boost just short of £200,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund this month.

And the biggest amount goes to Leaders Unlocked, a national organisation whose first project in Scotland was to set up the North Ayrshire Mental Health Commission to empower the voices of young people in the area.

The group, which employs North Ayrshire councillor Nairn MacDonald as its local project manager, will receive £138,928.

The Lottery said: "This group will use the funding to build on the success of their youth-led Mental Health Commission North Ayrshire project, which educates young people on the effects of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, sectarianism, and other prejudices as paramount in supporting young people's mental health."

More than £7 million is being paid out to community groups across Scotland.

Other North Ayrshire grants went to the following groups.

Beith Theatre Group: £5,228 to upgrade their sound equipment, enabling them to future-proof the group's delivery, allowing them to support other groups in the area.

Castlepark and Eglinton Community Association: £10,000 to fund a community connector who will organise and deliver an ongoing programme of activities at the local community centre.

Creative Recycling Limited: £6960 to allow the Stevenston group to hire a larger venue to increase the number of people benefitting from their free creative textile upcycling and recycling sewing workshops.

Irvine Community Council: £8,026 to coordinate and deliver a community-led programme of festive events during Christmas.

Minds Of Recovery: £9,740 to allow the Irvine group to deliver grassroots addiction recovery workshops in Irvine and the Garnock Valley.

North Ayrshire Foodbank: £5,000 to provide a warm programme of activity in winter 2023-2024.

Pain Association Scotland: £5,000 to allow the North Ayrshire group to develop an interactive digital pain management programme for people living with chronic pain as a long-term condition, as well as raising awareness of the issues around chronic pain in the workplace.

St Winin's Over 60s Club: £3,335 to deliver a programme of social activity, community meals and outings for older people.

The Cronies Social Club of Stevenston and District: £6,073 to cover costs for venue hire, equipment for their activities, social events, and outings. This will support 40 older people and their families.