SEVERAL West Fife groups are celebrating an early Christmas cheer after landing a grant to help them take action on the climate emergency.

Over £25,000 of Community Climate Grants have been distributed across the Kingdom through two funds being offered by the Fife Climate Hub and Climate Action Fife.

A total of 31 projects can now be delivered by 25 community groups as a result of the funding which launched in September.

Fife Climate Hub Manager Craig Leitch was pleased to help the work of so many groups.

READ MORE: Christmas comes early for Fife lottery winner

"We were thrilled to receive applications from so many and such a variety of community groups from across Fife," he said. "It means a lot to us that people can feel empowered to take action on the climate crisis in ways that meets the needs of their communities and is within their reach.”

“It’s also great that we are now able to see the Fife Climate Festival coming together with the number of groups that applied to hold events during the festivals debut from February 25 to March 3, 2024."

Two distinct grants were available – the Small Grants Fund of up to £500 for climate-related events in the community and the Seed and Development Grant which offered up to £1,000 for climate-related activities and projects.

Aberdour Climate Action Network, Carnock and Gowkhall Community Trust, Culross Stables Community Hub, Fife Alcohol Support Service (Curnie Club), Friends of Pittencrieff Park, Rosyth Community Projects Limited and West Fife Woodlands Group all benefitted from the scheme.

Gail Miller, from the Friends of Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline was delighted with the award.

The group have two projects which will benefit from the funds, a book box – or free library box – in the park for everyone to use and recycle books keeping them out landfill.

They hope this will promote discussion on re-using existing books and the climate. And the activity is raising plants in their greenhouse to distribute to the local foodbank to promote wellbeing and clean air.

“Thanks for the good news, it was a good start to my day," Gail added. "I'm looking forward to acting on the project.”