DISABILITY groups across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire are to receive a share of almost £800,000 in the latest round of National Lottery grants.

The West of Scotland Wheelchair Sports Club, which boasts tennis star Gordon Reid as a part-time member, is celebrating receiving a grant of £10,000 to develop sessions for the Glasgow Rocks Wheelchair Basketball team at St Ninian’s High School, in Giffnock.

The team, formerly known as the St Mirren Warriors, will have two different teams next season, playing matches across the UK.

The money will help to pay for transport and accommodation for the players, as well as more training sessions at weekends and during the day.

Bobby Park, team manager, said: “We’re delighted to receive this grant as we will be going up and down the country next season, so it will help a lot with transport and accommodation.

“I’d like to thank our treasurer David McWilliam because he deserves all the credit for this application.

“We’ll hopefully be playing some show games at the Emirates Arena, in Glasgow, alongside our usual home games at Eastwood High.

“Things are going well at the club and this award is very exciting.”

Meanwhile, Shopmobility Paisley and District will receive a boost of £9,000 to help it provide free wheelchairs and scooters to support members of the community with mobility needs when they visit Paisley town centre.

The group will also offer longer term hire for users going on holiday.

Gerry McLaughlin, the group’s administrator, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding as it is vital to us so we can meet our core costs such as repair and maintenance of equipment.”

Renfrewshire Disability Arts Forum will also receive £7,500 to fund a visual arts programme, as well as dance workshop training and development classes.

And members at Priorscroft Bowling Club, in Paisley, will get an injection of £10,000 to draught-proof their clubhouse.

There is also a £10,000 grant for the Eastwood Nursery Allotments Association, which will use the funding to improve accessibility and drainage at its site in Giffnock, with 10 new plots to be created.