Care operator Parklands has funded 14 community projects through its Parklands Pathway Fund, which launched last year.

The group, which has 12 homes in the Highlands, Moray and Aberdeenshire, launched the £30,000 Parklands Pathway Fund to support community projects that create a lasting legacy.

Findhorn-based charity Growing2gether is one of the 14 groups to receive funding from the scheme. The money will be used to empower disadvantaged young teenagers by giving them the confidence and skills to mentor children with social and personal communication challenges.

The Inverness Highlanders Junior Ice Hockey Club, based at Inverness Ice Rink, applied to the Pathways Fund to buy 100 synthetic ice tiles, allowing the club to train off season during the summer months.

Other recipients include Highland and Islands Blood Bikes, which delivers cerebral spinal fluid and cancer samples to the NHS using bikes, Cromarty Youth Café, which provides free activities for young people, and Black Isle Cares, which aims to improve the well-being of local people, reduce loneliness and isolation and keep people active and connected in their local community.

Anne McDonald, chairperson at Black Isle Cares, said: “Funding from the Parklands Pathway Fund will support activities connecting older and younger people. ‘Our Black Isle’ will improve the well-being of many living on the Black Isle, empowering young people, alleviating loneliness and isolation, and keeping people active and connected.”

Ron Taylor, managing director of Parklands Care Homes, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting such a diverse group of local community groups. They are very different in nature but each of them contributes a great deal to the sporting, health and social richness of the region.”

The Pathway Fund is now closed to new applicants. Applications will re-open in the autumn.