The decision was taken by members at yesterday’s meeting as part of the council’s community grants scheme, designed to support local constituted community groups and voluntary organisations.

Recipients of this round of awards are: 

• Lunar Gymnastics Club, Lesmahagow - £750 for equipment 
• Biggar and District Community Heritage, Biggar - £400 for equipment, administration and publicity costs 
• Lanark Area Tenants and Residents’ Association, Lanark - £600 for Equipment 
• Lanark in Bloom - £750 for equipment, administration and publicity costs 
• 1st Lesmahagow Cubs and Beavers, Coalburn - £300 for equipment and materials 
• Black Mount Community Council, Biggar - £200 for administration and publicity costs. 

The main aims of the grants scheme are to fund activities and projects which bring community benefit, bring people together to enjoy educational, recreational, leisure and other community activities or to improve the local environment. 

Applications are open year round and support is available for a range of activities including, administration and publicity costs, purchase of equipment and materials, annual outings and entrance fees, start-up costs and special events. 

At yesterday’s meeting, councillors also noted a proposal to allocate £20,000 from the total 2020/2021 community grant budget to help community groups working to support their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fund is to be apportioned equally between the four Area Committees allowing community groups who are providing help and support to those most in need, to apply for small grants to meet expenses. A report on the awards made will be submitted to a future meeting of the Area Committee for noting.

To date the Clydesdale Area committee has approved £11400 of grants from its £25750 budget for 2020/21.