IT was a flight of fancy that has so far cost big-hearted bosses at Glasgow Airport more than £500,000 in donations to organisations which operate in and around the city.

Dozens of local activities, charities and innovative projects have been given financial backing after it was decided that surrounding communities should share in the airport's success.

So, officials who run Scotland's biggest airport launched the FlightPath Fund. As the name implies, it's been set up to specifically benefit communities beneath Glasgow's flight path.

The fund was unveiled in 2010 and in three years it's already paid out £550,000.

Almost half the money was donated last year as more community projects became aware of the available funding.

The money has been ploughed into three key areas - education, employment and the environment. But there have been exceptions if the cause is a good one such as a sports theme.

The Old Firm was supported with a £50,000 donation to help tackle youth disorder. Both Celtic and Rangers were given the cash to help with youth football programmes which include workshops on sectarianism, drugs and booze.

And community coach Gary Gibson was delighted. He said: "Rangers Football Club is thrilled to be entering into this partnership with Glasgow Airport, a collaboration which will see even more young people join our award winning community programme.

"The club remains wholeheartedly committed to initiatives like this which make a significant difference to the lives of a wide range of people, none of which would be possible without the investment by community-focused organisations like Glasgow Airport."

More than 200 youngsters will benefit from the funding. Celtic's football development officer Brian Delaney added: "Celtic has always been much more than a football club and has always had an appreciation of its wider social responsibility.

"We are delighted to be working in partnership with Glasgow Airport and through the Flightpath Fund we will develop and deliver a programme which will tackle a number of important issues.

"We, along with our partners have a special opportunity to help young people in their formative years in order to assist with their development to become good citizens. We are delighted to support this programme as we aim to make a positive difference to the lives of young people."

Airport managing director Amanda McMillan added: "As one of the largest businesses and employers in the west of Scotland, we have a responsibility to support the communities we serve."

The communities which benefit are in the four council areas of Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire, with councillors from each local authority sitting on the FlightPath Fund Board.

Meetings are chaired by retired chartered account Archie Hunter. He is delighted that more than £500,000 has so far been donated and said:

"To reach this milestone in just under three years is a fantastic achievement and it is testament to the hard work of everyone involved.

"We receive a huge number of applications and it is ­always a fascinating challenge to find the most worthy projects.

"It is hugely rewarding to watch charities and communities groups prosper and go from strength-to-strength as a result of the funding they have received from the FlightPath Fund."

gordon.thomson@eveningtimes.co.uk