South Lanarkshire councillors awarded five East Kilbride groups play scheme grants.
Elected members of the East Kilbride area committee approved the allocation of play scheme grants in the area for 2022/2023, and a total of five groups benefited from funding.
Groups that received grants were Special Needs Adventure Playground (SNAP), which was awarded £400, Strathaven After School Club, Moss Out of School Service, East Kilbride Universal Connections and Playcare Out of School Care, which were all awarded £600.
The funding for play schemes is included in the council’s community grants scheme which gives funds to play schemes operating over the summer, October and Easter school holiday periods.
Councillor Monique McAdams (East Kilbride West) questioned whether or not the committee could increase funding from the recommended amounts, specifically for the Special Needs Adventure Playground, which received £400.
She said: “£400 basically isn’t a lot of money at all and I understand that’s the maximum they can get because of the rules that were previously se., I think it’s time now for us to look at the rules.
“£400 doesn’t cover much, I mean you could be £500 for hiring a bus for the day and that’s just for one trip. It’s £10 to get a child into the cinema, it’s £14 to get them into Edinburgh Zoo, so I understand that the limits have been set, but when were those limits set and how is it we go about actually changing the limits?”
The group only applied for funding for the summer period hence receiving less than other groups. However, the question of increasing funding for groups was brought up at the meeting but all area committees (Hamilton, Clydesdale and Cambuslang and Rutherglen) would have to agree on this.
Recommendations reflect the council’s decision to allocate grant funding on the following basis, £600 to play schemes that operate over the summer, October and Easter periods, £400 for the summer period only and £100 for each of the October and Easter periods.
The overall total approved to support play schemes and community grants in the East Kilbride area committee area in 2022/2023 was £25,750. The grants amounting to £2800 for play scheme funding will be met from the area committee’s community grant and play scheme budget, leaving £19,750 remaining to use for community grants for the rest of 2022/2023.
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
