Councillors agreed a total of £3830 of applications from six groups from across the area, when they met on Tuesday.

Recipients in this round include the Women’s Rural Institute, a local choral society, and Biggar and District Men’s Shed (pictured) which aims to reduce isolation and loneliness in older men, particularly in rural communities. 

The full list includes: 

• Lanark Community Development Trust - £1000 for equipment 
• Crawfordjohn Heritage Venture Trust, Biggar - £430 for equipment, admin, and publicity costs 
• Coulter WRI - £250 for an outing 
• The Lanark Choral, Lanark - £650 for materials, admin, and publicity costs 
• Biggar and District Men’s Shed, Biggar - £1000 for equipment 
• Braehead Village Trust - £500 for materials, outing and entrance fees, admin, and publicity costs 

The purpose of the community grants scheme is to fund activities and projects which offer community benefit, and which bring those communities together to enjoy educational, recreational, leisure and other activities, or to improve the local environment. 

Support can be provided for everything from outings and entrance fees to admin and start-up costs and special events. Applications are invited throughout the year and awards recommended for approval at each meeting of the relevant Area Committee. 

More information on the criteria, activities that attract funding, and the application process are available on the council website.