The council’s Community Grants scheme includes provision for funding playschemes operating over the school holidays and, through this, specific Playscheme Grants of £440 were awarded to Childcare in the Community and REACH Lanarkshire Autism, both in Hamilton.

Two Larkhall groups received Community Grants, with Larkhall Heritage Group and Larkhall New Parish Church Guild each being awarded £350 for outing costs and entrance fees, while £600 was granted to Hamilton Cyber Youth Project, in Blantyre, for outing costs and entrance fees.

In all, Community Grants were awarded to eight groups in Hamilton, with three of them receiving £300 each for outings: Hamilton Bowling Club, Hamilton South Guilds together and Musical Memories.

Hillhouse Parish Church Men’s Club also received £320 for outing costs and entrance fees, while Handmades received £240 towards their outing.

Start-up costs incurred by The Holding Space, involving equipment, materials and publicity, received a £300 boost, while further grants of £300 were awarded to Hamilton District Men’s Shed, for materials, and to SLC Radio, for equipment.

The Community Grants scheme aims to fund activities and projects that add community benefit or bring people in the community together either to enjoy educational, recreational, leisure and other activities or to improve the local environment.

Support can be provided for a range of costs such as for administration and publicity, the purchase of equipment and materials, annual outings and entrance fees, start-up expenditure and special events.

Further information on Community Grants in general or specifically on Playscheme Grants, can be found on the council website.