A VOLUNTEER action group in Raigmore is the October winner of a Rotary Club giveaway backed by the Highland News.
Community Action for Raigmore Estate (CARE) will receive £300 to help reach the £20,000 it needs to buy new equipment for the playground outside Raigmore Community Centre.
The donation is part of a cash giveaway by Loch Ness Rotary Club worth thousands of pounds this year, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its charter.
It has teamed up with the Highland News to run the programme, aimed at grassroots causes rather than the bigger high-profile charities. Each month, a lucky group, individual or charity in the Inverness area receives a cash boost of £300 to put to good use.
Jackie Mackay, chairperson of CARE, said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive the money from the Rotary Club. I hadn't heard from them and assumed we hadn't been successful, so it was a wonderful surprise when they called.
"We are raising funds to buy an aerial runway and are also looking at getting a large hamster wheel the children can run about in.
"It is a hugely important project for the whole community and we are overjoyed to receive help from outside.
"With the Rotary Club's money, we are now well on the way to raising the large amount of money we need to see the project through."
Jackie (27), whose two sons Matthew Lumsden (8) and Allan Lumsden (3) regularly use the playground, decided to first take action after Highland Council deemed the Ashton Road park's equipment unsafe for child use.
She explained: "What started as a few school mums chatting in the playground turned into a group which raised £31,000 to install new swings and a toddler area, and now we want to take it further.
"Children from the estate have been involved from the start and let us know what they wanted from the playground. It is as much their project as it is ours."
Jackie is one of four volunteers involved with CARE and says they are always on the lookout for recruits.
"Anyone can get involved, it doesn't matter what their level their experience. We run film mornings and quiz nights as part of the fundraising, and try to get as many people involved as possible."
Details of CARE's monthly meetings and regular events are available on its Facebook page, at
www.facebook.com/pages/Community-Action-for-Raigmore-Estate
Mike Halley, past president of the Loch Ness Club said: "I was really pleased to meet with representatives of the group on behalf of the other club members for the presentation of this month's charter charity £300.
"It is really refreshing to see this group of Raigmore residents come together to raise funds to make a difference to people of all ages throughout their community.
"We know they are looking at a fairly big amount of fundraising to carry their project through, but we hope the donation from the Rotary Club will allow them to make a difference in some way right now to improving things for the people around that area."
Groups, individuals and charities are invited to apply for one of the £300 monthly awards by visiting www.lochnessrotary.org/fundingapplications.asp
Entries will be invited each month and put forward for judging, and a lucky winner chosen and featured in the Highland News.
Those not chosen will go forward for consideration the following month along with new entries.
