EAST Renfrewshire has been handed a £40,000 boost to help embattled communities recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Scottish Government cash will be used by seven organisations, four of them in Barrhead, to persuade people to shop local and make their area more attractive to live and work.

One of the beneficiaries, business improvement organisation All About Barrhead, has been awarded £4,795 to commission a series of murals on walls across the town to celebrate it’s heroes and industrial history.

All About Barrhead manager Andy Dunlop said: “The idea is to have an art project that has a lasting impact on the town and brighten up some lesser used areas, such as underpasses and gable ends, with artwork.

“We hope to have the first pieces on the walls early next year.

“The main aim is to bring a bit of colour to Barrhead. It’s not just local heroes – we also want to celebrate the town’s rich industrial heritage.

“We’ll also be having a public consultation with the people of Barrhead to find out what types of murals they would like to see.”

Other beneficiaries include the Tuesday Friendship Club, in Cochrane Street, which provides entertainment for adults with learning difficulties.

It’s £4,967 grant will be used to pay for PPE, signage and heating once its Cochrane Street base, which has been closed since March, reopens.

East Renfrewshire Council has been given £10,000 to provide branding, banners and advertising to promote local businesses in Barrhead, Neilston, Newton Mearns, Clarkston and Giffnock.

And £5,000 goes to business improvement organisation I Love Clarkston to provide a free delivery service for local traders.

Meanwhile, the Barrhead-based Dunterlie Allotments and Horticultural Society has been given £4,750 to turn unused local land into flowerbeds and green spaces.

Also benefitting is the Arthurlie Family Centre, which gets £5,000 to build a community garden.

An identical grant has been awarded to East Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce to design maps which will give residents details of shops and firms within a 20-minute walk of where they live.

The fund is being administered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership as part of the Scotland Loves Local campaign.