Local community groups and projects in Craigmillar need your support in their bid to win a grant of £6,000 from the RBS Community Force Awards scheme.

The groups are looking for your votes in an online poll, which runs until this Saturday, and the projects receiving the most votes in the local area will receive the grants.

You can help our local groups by registering and voting for their entries here. And remember to pass on the links to friends and family so they can lend their support too – these groups and charities need as many votes as possible.

Here are the local groups and charities looking for your help – and what they’ve got to say about their bids…

Community Ability Network (CAN) is an anti-poverty charity, helping disabled or disadvantaged people in the area with tax income and fuel bills.

“The money would be used to support the existing services and volunteers - who are given expenses, such as travel and, if doing more than a five hour day, a paid lunch.

“As a small charity we struggle day-to-day to pay bills, such as photocopier, telephone Internet, all of which are essential to issuing information and assisting in our daily processes.

“Our qualified volunteers, such as dietician and advisers would benefit by being able to reach a wider audience, offering outreach services.

“We deal with all enquiries, signposting to expert help and assistance where needed, but the majority are dealt with in our small office.

“We have been in the area for almost 10 years and the needs never decrease as new houses are built and more people take up residency.

“We work in partnership with many of the local organisations and agencies to improve the quality of life for our clients."

Ron Carthy, manager of CAN, was keen for local people to vote. He said: “CAN increasingly relies on volunteers to deliver its services but while volunteers are happy to work for nothing neither they nor we want them to be out of pocket.The RBS will help with volunteer expenses.

“The other priority is to produce a newsletter to distribute to our members (membership is free).

“CAN was set up in 2002 to support disabled and disadvantaged in Craigmillar and subsequently extended to cover Portobello. We have 1,400 members registered, about two thirds of whom have some form of disability.   

“Last year just over 2,000 people came to us for advice, which resulted in us securing just over £1m in benefits and other payments to them.That £1m is also a significant boost to the Craigmillar economy.”

The Thistle Foundation, a community gym which has helped people with long-term health conditions for nearly 70 years, is also in need of your votes.

 “In order to maintain supervised gym time as a free service to members with a health condition, to those that need it most, we need your support.

"This award would help us ensure local Craigmillar people can access a supervised fitness environment for at least four hours a day, maintaining our expert staff, who support, motivate and understand.

“Thistle is based in Craigmillar, with people here more than twice as likely as someone in a wealthier area to have a long-term condition.

“Household incomes are low, yet we want to encourage the local community of 7,000 plus to use the gym. We know that gym use quadruples when there is no cost attached, so we don’t charge people who are referred from local health services.

"We also make a special effort to connect people to others through group activities, and to access other services.

“At the heart of everything we do is the understanding that we are working with people, not the disability or health condition. People who use our service often share stories around improved confidence, mood, or social connection.”

John Cunningham is just one of the many people who benefit from the services provided by Thistle Gym. He was recommended to the facility by a physiotherapist after a painful back problem left him unable to leave the house, and therefore overweight.

John, who believes that his life has since improved, described the gym as “a godsend.” He said: “I was a bit dubious at first because another gym I went to had been very intimidating and I felt really out of place.

“However, I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly everyone was. They went out of their way to help me, talk to me and encourage me; everybody helps each other here. I have a laugh with the folk that come along and the classes are really enjoyable, you can have fun and relax.

“On the Lifestyle Management course I met people who've had similar issues to me.

“I’ve met older people who come to the gym almost religiously and think ‘if I ever get to that age I hope I'm doing that.

“My life has changed so much; my walking has improved and I’ve made it my goal to go out every morning for the paper. I also wanted to get back to fishing and I've already been out a couple of times this year. I can do things again, whereas before I felt I was cut off from the world.

“I just hope other people can get the same support I've had because I think it’s been the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Diana Noel-Paton, Chief Executive of Thistle Foundation urged people to vote for the organisation.

She said: "Support for Thistle Gym would be amazing as it means we could continue to offer a vital free service at the heart of one of Scotland's most deprived communities. 

"We're here for people who couldn't afford to come to the gym otherwise and we also offer a welcoming, non-threatening place for people who may be living with limiting health conditions or disabilities.”

Also looking for your votes is Venchie Children and Young People’s Project. The charity, in Niddrie Mains Terrace, provides children and young people in the wider Craigmillar community with various recreational clubs.

“We would use the money to develop our allotments and give the children and young people the skills to grow their own food and learn about the food chain.

“We would also use some of the money to buy some much needed resources and equipment.”

Just outside the community, in Castlebrae Business Centre, is Lothian Autistic Society and they too are hoping to receive the RBS grant. They need the money to establish a new weekly activity programme for children between the ages of seven and 12.

“Our research highlighted that this group of children have very few opportunities to participate in activities out with school so they are constantly at home which can cause tension.

“Lothian Autistic society provides a range of services including play schemes during the holidays, respite voucher scheme, volunteer parents supporting families, family outings and activities, siblings club, training and information, advice and support to families."

Good luck to all our local groups! Post your comments and messages here on s1craigmillar.