Groups are being invited to bid for grants of up to £20,000 towards community events as part of the Inverclyde Meliora Festival 2022.

Inverclyde Council has set aside £120k to be shared among the six locality areas as part of the Meliora celebrations.

It is part of the local authority’s summer festival which kicks off in May with the Gourock Highland Games followed by the British Pipe Band Championships, Scotland v England girls’ under-15s international football match, Inverclyde Warrior 5k obstacle course and a visual arts event which has still to be announced.

Local groups will also be able to bid for funding to put on their own community-based events.

Councillor Jim Clocherty, convener of education and communities, said: “After long spells over the last two years of being stuck at home and dealing with restrictions, the Meliora Festival is an opportunity to reunite and reconnect while enjoying first-class entertainment right on our doorstep.

“We have some incredible headline events coming up during May and June but there’s also an opportunity through this community fund for local communities to get involved and host their own celebrations and celebrate the community spirit that has been at the forefront of the response to the pandemic.

“Groups may wish to bid for funding to support and enhance existing events, launch a completely new one or seek funding for a Platinum Jubilee celebration. It is entirely up to those at the heart of our communities to decide and I look forward to hearing about the events that will benefit from this funding.”

Meliora means ‘in the pursuit of betterment’ and the festival itself is being funded by Inverclyde Council from a £350,000 events budget as part of the local authority’s £4 million Covid-19 recovery plans.

The community fund is aimed at providing an opportunity for communities to socialise and reconnect with others during the summer through delivery of a range of activities.

Funding of up to £20k is available for groups in each of the six Inverclyde localities: Greenock East & Central; Greenock South & South West; Greenock West & Gourock; Port Glasgow; Kilmacolm & Quarrier’s Village; and Inverkip & Wemyss Bay.

The fund is open to constituted groups and not-for-profit organisations only and the closing date for applications is 4 March 2022 at 4pm.

Two online meetings are scheduled for Wednesday 16 February 2022 at 11am and 6.30pm for interested parties to find out more and ask questions.

Anyone wishing to attend should email calum.mclellan@inverclyde.gov.uk for more information.

For more information about the Meliora Community Fund and to apply, visit www.inverclyde.gov.uk/melioracommunityfund.