A COMMUNITY group has been awarded £500 and recruited more volunteers after using social media to secure public votes for a building society initiative.

The Friends of Rockliffe Court, a group of 18 who run a domiciliary care service providing assistance to people in their homes, set up their organisation in 2009 when they worked to create a community garden.

The garden is used for social gatherings by residents who also help to maintain the space and make their own improvements.

The Friends group took part in Skipton Building Society’s Grassroots Giving initiative, which offered £500 to the top 160 groups out of more than 1,000 entrants to win public votes.

The Friends of Rockliffe Court will use their £500 to buy plants, shrubs and gardening tools for the garden.

The group was given the chance to share their story through the building society’s social media networks and said the exposure has allowed them to recruit more volunteers.

Peter Allan, a Friends volunteer, said: "The gardens are used as a central community meeting place. We want to provide a space where our patients can relax and unwind.

“With this funding we can expand our group further, and encourage more residents to get involved too. Skipton’s method of voting has really increased interest in our group.”