A DEMENTIA-FIGHTING project called Lingo Flamingo is among eight ambitious social enterprises given a massive boost to their fledgling businesses.

They have been chosen to take part in the Scotland’s only social enterprise accelerator programme, LaunchMe, which means an initial seed funding of up to £25,000 with the option to apply for funding of up to £100,000 to match any investment they secure during the three-year programme.

Winners also include The Workshop in Aberfeldy, No1 Befriending Agency in Glasgow, Scottish Design Exchange in Edinburgh, South Ayrshire Community Transport, KLAS Care in Renfrewshire, and Glasgow-based Building Futures, Vox Liminis and Lingo Flamingo, which provides language workshops for elderly people in order to fight dementia.

Karen McGregor, chief executive of Firstport, which delivers the programme, said: “We are excited to reveal our latest amazing group of social entrepreneurs.”