The funding is a result of the administration budget passed by the council earlier this year, with an additional £50,000 being allocated to each of the 20 council wards.

Councillors in each ward were asked to come up with proposals for how the new Local Action Fund should be spent, with final decisions being taken by the Executive Committee.

The first proposals have now been unanimously agreed at a meeting of the Executive Committee.

Receiving the funding boost in Ward 19 will be Eddlewood Football Club (£5000), Low Waters Lot Community Group (£1000) ,11th Hamilton Guides (£2000), Low Waters Community Group (£2000) and Sunday Allsorts Youth Group (£750)

Also benefiting will be Centenary Gardens (£2000), Deer Park (£2000) and John Smith (£2,000) sheltered housing complexes and two care homes, Abercorn House (£2000) and Abbeydale Court (£2000), while three charities working to help people in the ward will also receive funds: The Salvation Army (£750), The Richmond Fellowship (£750) and the Samaritans (£750)

The ward’s primary schools – Chatelherault, Our Lady & St Anne's, St Elizabeth's, St John's, Woodhead and Woodside – complete the list of recipients, each being given £4500.

Council Leader Joe Fagan said: “The Local Action Fund was agreed as part of our Building Back Budget and is designed to help each community with projects that can have a lasting and worthwhile impact for everyone who lives there.

“Local councillors were able to gauge from their constituents where the money could be best used, and I am delighted that we already have agreement for how the money should be spent in 13 of the 20 council wards, with the others to follow in due course.

“This extra funding in Hamilton South will directly benefit local people at all stages of life and with a variety of needs and interests, meaning that the good of it will be felt right through the community.”

The elected members for Ward 19 are Councillor Celine Handibode, Councillor Gavin Keatt, Councillor John Ross and Councillor Helen Toner.