Community groups across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire which are doing their bit to help save the planet have been handed a funding boost of almost £1million.

Five local projects have been awarded cash from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) to support efforts to cut carbon emissions.

Among those to benefit is the ReMode Renfrewshire initiative, which has been given almost £100,000 to reduce textile waste by collecting unwanted clothes at its Lochwinnoch shop and offering events such as hands-on workshops.

In addition, efforts will be made to promote the link between textiles, carbon emissions and climate change.

There is also a £150,000 grant for the Local Energy Action Plan’s Brighter Warmer Renfrewshire project, which will help households to reduce energy use, choose more sustainable travel methods and tackle waste.

Staff at the project will run a series of events to help Renfrewshire residents learn more about climate change and ways to help tackle it.

Also in Renfrewshire, there is a £100,000 award for Williamsburgh Housing Association’s Seedhill Urban Growing and Regeneration Climate Challenge Project.

This Paisley-based initiative will help to reduce clothes and furniture going to landfill and increase production and consumption of local food.

Project activities include a programme of upcycling, recycling and food waste workshops, a textiles swap shop and the creation of food-growing space at Paisley Grammar School.

The largest award, totalling almost £300,000, goes to the Neilston Development Trust’s GET (Grow, Eat, Travel) Local project, which aims to create a more sustainable and lower carbon community.

Activities run by GET Local will include the development of a community food-growing space, workshops to support low carbon food choices, an electric car-share scheme and the promotion of walking and cycling.

Also benefitting is Woodfarm Educational Centre’s Bringing East Renfrewshire Back to Basics project, which receives almost £240,000.

This project helps people to grow food locally and will also support secondary school pupils to champion sustainability through a volunteer programme, providing climate change education along with practical skills to enhance employability and university applications.

Further initiatives include cycle training and weekly sewing clubs.

Announcing the awards, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The Climate Challenge Fund enables communities to take ownership and action at a grassroots level with projects that deliver tangible community and social benefits while helping address climate change.

“More than 1,000 projects have been supported by the CCF the length and breadth of Scotland. These fantastic projects are empowering local communities to make meaningful and lasting change.”