The Rutherglen group has been awarded £5000 following a Participatory Budgeting exercise, which gives local people a direct say in how public money is spent.

The action group organises free community events for the residents of Burnhill and the surrounding areas, including a summer fun day, Hallowe’en, an Easter event, an Elf Trail and a glow-in-the-dark party.

The events have proved successful but so much so that it would be hard to find the funding to cope with the high numbers of people attending these events.

Nicole Kane, from Burnhill Action Group, said: “The free community events are fantastic and the effort that goes into each one is amazing.

“It's expensive to take your family to days out so having these events that are free and being able to see how much the whole community enjoys them is just lovely to be a part of.

“Holding events, running outdoor cooking classes and organising activities such as a wellbeing group, a family group and skill-sharing activities has really brought what once was a broken community back together again. The area is clean, safe friendly and people are always made to feel welcome.

“We are therefore delighted that this funding will be able to make the events even bigger and better than ever.”

The council’s community engagement team coordinates the Participatory Budgeting process in conjunction with local stakeholders, with the funding coming from the council and the National Lottery.

Council Leader and Chair of the Community Planning Partnership, Councillor Joe Fagan, said: “The number of events and the work put into organising them by Burnhill Action Group are really quite amazing.

“The way that past events have bought the community together has helped to transform the area as a whole, and in using this funding to allow even more people to enjoy future events, the local people can’t fail to reap the benefits.

“Well done to everyone involved at Burnhill Action Group and I look forward to hearing how much fun is enjoyed by everyone at all the events they have now got planned.”