Pipers, mountaineers, scouts and senior citizens are among those to benefit from recent Community Action Grants awarded by Lochaber Limited, part of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) network.

The Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team have been awarded a Community Action Grant worth £2,480 (pounds) in order to buy new, potentially life-saving radio equipment. The volunteer group, who rely on donations and fundraising in order to be able to operate year-round, provide an essential rescue service for mountaineers who get into difficulties.

An ever increasing amount of outdoor enthusiasts visit Lochaber every year to participate in mountain sports, whether it is climbing or ski-ing, providing a welcome boost for the area's tourism industry. A healthy, local rescue service is a benefit to the community and Lochaber Limited is delighted to be able to support the team.

Local pipers have also benefited from the recent round of awards, receiving £450 (pounds) towards the cost of new chanters and drums. The Lochaber Pipe Band was established in 1968, and after a gap of several years, reformed in 1995. The new equipment will help the group improve their performance, increasing their ability to compete at international level where they will be able to fly the flag for Lochaber.

Projects which involve young people or developing leadership skills are a priority for Lochaber Limited, which makes the Lochaber Area Scout Council very deserving recipients of a Community Action Grant of £370 (pounds). The money will help buy an extension for the scouts' marquee providing additional space for a cookery area and meeting health and safety requirements.

The grant will also go towards the cost of training new scout leaders and developing first aid, mountain safety and map reading skills of existing leaders.

New skills and the drive towards life long learning was the reason for a £340 (pounds) grant to the Invernevis House League of Friends, a fundraising organisation which helps to provide the 'extras' for the elderly residents at the state-owned Invernevis House in Fort William.

The grant helped with the purchase of computer equipment for use by residents who developed a taste for IT when they had a computer on loan from Highland Council.

Lochaber Credit Union in Fort William have also been awarded a Community Action Grant for the purchase of specialist IT equipment. The organisation was set up in March last year to offer low income and disadvantaged sectors of the community a cheaper alternative to traditional banking. A grant of £1,500 (pounds) will help them buy a new computer and IT training allowing records to be updated more speedily.

One of the largest Community Action Grants in recent months has been awarded to Lochaber Action on Disability. The £3,350 (pounds) award will go towards the purchase of a new minibus, helping to promote social inclusion. Access to transport in rural areas is restricted for disabled people but Lochaber Action on Disability, who have been operating from the shopping centre in Caol for the past six years, aims to improve the quality of life of disabled people throughout the region.

Head of Community Development at Lochaber Limited, Charlotte Wright said: "Strengthening communities is one of Lochaber Limited's key priorities and we are able to do this through Community Action Grants. This is a scheme which we hope adds to the attractiveness of life in the Lochaber area through improved opportunities for recreation and community interaction.

"These most recent awards demonstrate the wide variety of bodies and projects which we can assist."