Lockerbie Wheelchair Curling Club, a local sports club for wheelchair users, has won £900 following their Aviva Community Fund entry bid.

Lockerbie Wheelchair Curling is just one of the 450 plus organisations and charities that have won funding to support their inspiring work.

LWCC is a small, not-for-profit organisation, allowing wheelchair users to participate in the sport of Wheelchair Curling, providing a wonderful social environment for people who have suffered a life-changing injury or who suffer from conditions which impair their mobility.

The money from the Aviva Community Fund will be spent on hosting a Wheelchair Curling Tournament to encourage people who are newly injured, recently diagnosed or who were previously unaware of the social and sporting opportunities available to them to get around.

To drum up votes for its Aviva Community Fund entry, LWCC used their Facebook page - posting a link to vote for their entry and encouraging their followers to like and share it with the wider community.

LWCC is just one of over 450 projects and charities that secured funding from the Aviva Community Fund.

The nationwide initiative, now in its second year, launched in September 2016, called upon passionate residents to submit a project close to their heart to be in with a chance of securing funding ranging from £1,000 up to £25,000.

Nearly 4,000 groups entered the funding initiative, each galvanising the support of their local community to vote for their entry in six categories: health, disability and well-being, supporting the younger generation, supporting the older generation, sport in the community, environment (in association with Trinity Mirror), and community support.

Over five million votes were placed and the 689 groups with the highest votes were shortlisted as finalists.

Awards in the £1k category were decided on by public votes, with winners in the £5k, £10k and £25k categories selected from the finalists by a judging panel.

Projects bidding for £25k and £5k generated the highest number of entries and Supporting the Younger Generation, which received the highest number of entries (27 per cent), was the most popular entry category.

Ted Bidgood, of LWCC, said: "We’re over the moon that the Lockerbie Wheelchair Curling Club has been awarded funding by the Aviva Community Fund.

"Not only will it give us an opportunity to generate awareness for the sport, but it will also help us to demonstrate the incredible benefits taking part can have on mental and physical health and well-being, helping to transform the lives of our participants.”

Lindsay Forster, UK and Ireland Customer Marketing Director at Aviva, said: “We would like to congratulate LWCC on their win.

"It shows the positive impact they have on their local community.

"It has been incredible to see the number of entrants and the diversity of causes that applied for funding this year.

"Each had a powerful story to tell which showcased, not only the generosity and compassion of those who are involved with community groups across the UK, but also revealed the ongoing need for funding in order to continue their inspiring work.

“The reaction from LWCC and everyone who supported their campaign has been overwhelming.

"It proves that funding, even in small amounts, can help make a huge difference and enable this organisation to continue and grow.”