A Wishaw-based charity that helps struggling families furnish their homes is celebrating an award of £10,000.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul furniture project, which has similar projects in Shotts and Motherwell, has bought a box van following the cash boost from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Project manager Mary Brawley, who applied for the grant, believes the grant being given is a welcome boost to the charity.
She said: “We’re delighted. The new van means our volunteers can continue helping those in need in the area. The work we do is very important, because some of the people we assist have nothing.
“We can only give because we receive kind donations of things like beds, sofas, tables, chairs and white goods.
“They then get delivered to those who need them.”
Volunteers from the Catholic charity joined together recently to celebrate the grant at its base in Netherton Industrial Estate.
Fellow project manager James McCluskey, said: “A new and reliable van means we can keep delivery and uplifts of furniture going which will benefit the many people we help.”
The National Lottery Community Fund announced over £12 million to 311 Scottish groups earlier this month.
These included St Patrick’s Furniture Project Ltd which salvages unwanted furniture and white goods for re-use. They were awarded £10,000 that will be used to keep the project running in and around Shotts.
Craigneuk Community Council were awarded £9000 to run their Community Assistance Programme while FAMS (Families and Friends Affected by Murder and Suicide) in Motherwell received £7720 which will be used to enhance and develop their new FAMS Chat helpline service.
The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “These awards, made possible by National Lottery players, recognise the incredible work happening across Scotland to create stronger communities.”
