A Participatory Budgeting (PB) exercise was carried out, with a total of £2,800 available.

As a result Fernhill Soccer School were awarded £700 to cover the costs of their weekly hall lets. The Soccer School have provided the young people with equipment, clothing and refreshments during the sessions that have allowed them to keep fit and have fun with their friends while gaining new skills.

Fernhill Play Scheme were awarded £700 and used this money to take young people and their families to the Kings Theatre to see a pantomime at Christmas.

Fernhill Youth Project and Fernhill Bowlers were also awarded £700 each.

Local stakeholders and groups were invited to apply for funding for activities that focused on the priorities highlighted in the Neighbourhood Plan for the area. The projects were shared with the community to then allow local people to vote and tell them what they would like the money to be spent on.

The community had the opportunity to vote online and in person as a link was shared via South Lanarkshire Council and Local Social media pages. Outdoor voting stations were also made available within the community. There was a great turn out with more than 300 people showing support and voting for their favourite projects/groups.

The votes were then counted and the projects with the most votes were allocated funding to allow their projects to get underway.

The council’s Deputy Leader and Chair of the Community Planning Partnership, Councillor Maureen Chalmers, said: “The PB process gives local people the opportunity to decide where money should be spent in their local area and we are delighted the groups in Fernhill have such a positive impact on their communities.

“I would encourage groups across South Lanarkshire to find out more and get involved in the PB process – we recognise that no-one knows better than local people what would benefit their area.”