Community groups spread Christmas cheer
Published: Wednesday 6 December 2023
![This image shows a member of the Old Schoolhouse committee with a Christmas tree following a successful bid to the council's community wish list](https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/view/images/SLV_Abington_Old_School_House.jpg)
Santa is on his way to Abington this year – with a little help from the Community Wish List.
The Old Schoolhouse in the village was taken over by a group of local residents and provides a community gym, business hub and spaces for the community to use.
They are in the process of organising a Christmas event and were looking for help to get a Santa's Grotto set up and source some presents for around 50 children.
Two community groups answered this wish, due to them having Christmas items that they no longer needed.
The centre development manager, Nichola Hill, said: “Want to express our thanks for the wonderful tree and numerous other items that arrived at the old schoolhouse.
“These items will go a long way to ensuring families and children have a great Christmas in our community and we cannot thank you all enough.”
Chair of the council's Finance and Corporate Resources Committee, Councillor Lesley McDonald, said: "This is another great example of the Community Wish List and the benefits it can bring to local communities and organisations.
"I would like to thank all the other groups who donated so generously to this wish."
The Community Wish List is supported by South Lanarkshire Council’s Community Engagement Team.
The Old Schoolhouse is managed by Abington Community Development Group on behalf of the community and is comprised of 10 trustees from the village of Abington.
The former primary school building, which dates back to the 1800s, found new lease of life as a community building thanks to funding from the Scottish Government, Clyde Wind Farm and an REF grant which is managed and distributed by South Lanarkshire Council, utilising funding from Banks Renewables’ nearby Middlemuir Wind Farm.
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