Charities, community groups and projects supporting people in Lanarkshire have been awarded over £350,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund.
The size of the grants range from The Miracle Foundation in Motherwell, who will get £6751, to You Are My Sunshine (YAMS) in Newarthill who were awarded a whopping £100,400.
A total of 22 organisations, 18 in North Lanarkshire and four in South Lanarkshire, were selected to receive grants totalling £351,261.
YAMS will use part of their “Improving Lives” award to increase the availability of direct mental health support services. These include talks on mental health, a range of wellbeing activities and classes and counselling sessions.
TMF provide bereavement support to children and young people, the money they received from the “Awards for All” fund will go to redecorate their counselling and art therapy spaces to help make them more age appropriate for those receiving bereavement and trauma support.
Cumbernauld & Kilsyth Care received £30,000 to be used for cost of living crisis support such as warm spaces and food, and its baby and clothing banks.
Amongst the other organisations to receive grants in North Lanarkshire were: Bestway Community Development in Jerviston, Motherwell who were awarded £10,000 to continue the food bank they launched in 2020; and Kirkshaws Neighbourhood Centre, who will use the £10,000 to provide families with vouchers, food and warm clothing as well as appliances to reduce energy usage.
Maggie's Lanarkshire centre at Monklands Hospital were awarded £9340 to deliver a weekly cost-of-living crisis drop in service for anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis; and Newmains and district Senior Citizens Lunch Club who were awarded £10,000 funding to help cover the transport costs needed to enable socially isolated senior citizens to attend the Newmains Club.
In addition, Newmains SWELs (Seniors with Energetic Lifestyles) which provides activities such as Tai Chai and chair aerobics were awarded £7725 which will be used to organise a day trip, afternoon tea dances, and Christmas dinner, as well as continue activities.
Drumpellier Cricket and Waysiders Drumpellier Rugby Football Club were provided with £7,915 to carry out repairs and refurbishment of their clubhouse which is used by a number of community organisations in Coatbridge and surrounding areas.
Plains Community Futures received £10,000 which will fund outdoor gym equipment to provide community health and wellbeing opportunities in the village near Airdrie.
Larkhall and District Volunteer Group received the most of those awarded in South Lanarkshire with £46,720, which will be used for to expand and enhance delivery of their current programme of services and activities while increasing access to the community hub, bringing people together and providing a warm space for vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the community.
Services and activities will include the community fridge, helpline and cooking on a budget.
In Cambuslang, Particip8 Overton will use their £10,000 funding to provide a range of activities and events for people who live in the area, including a warm space in their community hub.
While in East Kilbride, Share Alike will be able to open their East Kilbride town centre hub for longer to offer a warm space, activities and free food thanks to an award of £9930.
The South Lanarkshire group will also increase their community larder capacity and deliver workshops on cooking and budgeting.
Forest Friends (Scotland) were the fourth South Lanarkshire group to receive an award - £6,850 will help provide forest and outdoor sessions for children in deprived areas.
The other North Lanarkshire groups to receive awards were; African Collaboration Group (£10,000), Autism Take5 (£10,000), Innerleithen Family Centre (£10,000), Living Waters Christian Centre (£8000), North Lanarkshire Council (£9400), African Lanarkshire For Mental Health (£8,500), SNAPS NL (Special Needs and Parent Support North Lanarkshire) (£10,000), and Wishaw Family Learning Centre (£10,000).
Kate Still from the National Lottery said: “Our funding continues to support people who are facing tough times and who are having to make difficult choices on a day-to-day basis.
“This latest round of awards will ensure that, in times of crisis, there are places where people can to go to for help, often when they feel that there’s nowhere else to turn.”
“National Lottery players can be very proud that they are supporting this vital work making a real difference to so many,” Kate added.
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