And six other groups shared more than £5,000 in the Hamilton area in response to the Warm Welcome Initiative.

Under the community grants scheme:

• Dalserf Village Garden Club, Larkhall received £380 for an environmental project
• Larkhall OAP Association Town Branch received £300 for an outing
• REACH Lanarkshire Autism SCIO, Hamilton received £800 for equipment, an outing and entrance fees
• Cadzow Community Corps, Hamilton received £625 for an equipment and materials
• Trinity Church Guild, Larkhall received £400 for an outing
• Hamilton Stitchers received £986 for equipment
• National Autistic Society (NAS) South Lanarkshire, Hamilton received £210 for materials
• Hamilton YFC received £360 for start-up costs and equipment

The following groups all received £1,000 under the Warm Welcome Initiative:

• Hamilton Old Parish Church
• The Machan Trust, Larkhall
• St Andrew’s Parish Church, Blantyre
• Meikle Earnock Community Council
• Supporting Our Community, Hamilton

Hamilton Baptist Church received £500 under the Warm Welcome Initiative.

The purpose of the community grants scheme is to fund activities and projects which offer community benefit, and which bring those communities together to enjoy educational, recreational, leisure and other activities, or to improve the local environment. 

Support can be provided for everything from outings and entrance fees to admin and start-up costs and special events. Applications are invited throughout the year and awards recommended for approval at each meeting of the relevant Area Committee. 

More information on the criteria, activities that attract funding, and the application process are available on the council website.