More than 80 local organisations have secured a share of over £320,000 from Inverclyde Council to support their grassroots work.

The local authority has announced the latest beneficiaries from its Community Grants Fund, including the local World Walking group, which was founded by Greenock man Duncan Galbraith inspired by the Inverclyde Globetrotters exercise club.

Just over £323k will be shared among a total of 83 groups to support a wide range of sporting, musical, cultural, religious, and voluntary activities across Inverclyde.

Funding was approved by councillors on the council’s grants sub-committee.

Bowling clubs, youth sports teams, dance schools, arts groups, community centres, and scouts and girl guides are among those benefiting.

Organisations will use the money towards a variety of things like running costs, maintenance work, building upgrades, and investment in new equipment.

Councillor Graeme Brooks, chair of the Inverclyde Council grants sub-committee, said: “I’m proud that once again, despite the financial pressures facing local government, we have been able to provide vital support to so many, varied local organisations to help them continue the work they do in our communities.

“As always, demand outweighs supply and we had over three-quarters of a million pounds worth of funding requests with a budget of just over three-hundred and twenty thousand pounds available so it’s always a difficult task for myself and my colleagues on the grants sub-committee to make these funding decisions and I’d like to thank them for their support.

“I hope these awards will give our community groups much-needed financial assistance during these difficult times and allow them to continue and also develop the important work they do for our residents.

“World Walking is a fine example of what can be achieved with some financial support and dedication from people like Duncan who has inspired hundreds, if not thousands, of people to get out and about to explore their local surroundings and also learn about other parts of the world in such an interactive way while enjoying all the benefits that come with walking.”

World Walking is a free online resource developed simply to motivate people to walk more and has received a grant of £1,750 to help with server hosting costs.

Inspired by the exploits of the Inverclyde Globetrotters, a local heart health exercise group, World Walking was launched in October 2013 and can be used by anyone, anytime, anywhere.

The website and mobile app allow people to use the steps they walk each day to complete virtual journeys, from city walks to trekking across a continent, and is packed with facts and photos that also allow users to look and learn as they explore.

To date, over 190,000 people around the world, including many in Inverclyde, have signed up to use World Walking, clocking up more than 113 billion steps – 48 million miles – and completing over 66,000 virtual walks to some of the most amazing places on Earth.

Founder Duncan, who also runs the group, said: “Quite simply, the wonderful support we’ve received from Inverclyde Council has enabled our small, volunteer-led charity to keep going.

“Walking is so beneficial for physical and mental wellbeing and it makes me happy to see so many people using the World Walking website and app to help inspire their journey and reach their targets, as well as connecting with so many other like-minded people around the world.”

Money has been made available from the local authority’s new Community Grants Fund, which combines the former Grants to Voluntary Organisations (GTVO), Under-19s Sports and Community Hall Waivers funding pots.

For more information and to find out how to apply, visit www.inverclyde.gov.uk/communitygrants.