Provost Ian McAllan was delighted that he was able to congratulate many of the residents in person at this year’s Community Awards now that restrictions have made it possible for the event to go ahead.

Unfortunately, due to the bad weather the ceremony in the Avon Suite in Hamilton Town House on Thursday 24 February had to be postponed until next month. So the Provost only had a chance to personally present trophies and certificates at the second ceremony held the following day.

This year a total of 37 residents from across South Lanarkshire were nominated by councillors representing their ward areas.

Nominations were made for a huge range of activities, from people who work with local community groups, community councils, charity organisations, sports teams, environmental projects and this year in particular, for those who have gone above and beyond to make sure that the most vulnerable people in our communities were cared for during the pandemic. 

Provost McAllan said: “This really is one of the highlights of my year – where I get to take part in celebrating the most fantastic achievements being carried out across South Lanarkshire.

“We all try to do what we can to help others but there is a special type of person who goes way beyond that – many call them volunteers - but I prefer to call them local heroes.

“For a second year, this army of volunteers has been going above and beyond as the pandemic continues to affect everyone across our communities.

“Many of their efforts go unnoticed for years as they help so many people in so many different ways.

“They do it not because they expect or want an award but because they love what they do and the effect it has on those they spend so much of their time with.

“But these awards allow us to give due praise to our unsung heroes. It is just a very small gesture to acknowledge their work.

“A huge congratulations to them all, and on behalf of everyone in South Lanarkshire, thank you so much for everything you do for your local communities.”

And in further recognition of the value that volunteers bring to our communities, earlier this week, as part of its 2022-23 budget, the council agreed to invest an additional £500,000 to support the area’s volunteers through extra funding for the implementation of the Community Planning Partnership’s Volunteering Strategy.