Christmas wish is granted for the kids
They will visit panto
A Cathkin playscheme netted an early Christmas present recently.
Cathkin Braes Playscheme, for eight to 14-year-olds, will be enjoying a trip to the pantomime this year, after landing a £250 grant from South Lanarkshire Council’s Cambuslang and Rutherglen area committee.
They’ll now go on an outing to see Santa Claus is Coming to Town at Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre.
The chair of the committee, Councillor Russell Clearie, and the depute chair, Councillor Richard Tullett, met the organisers of the playscheme – who also run a toddlers group and a golden girls group for the over-60s – to hand over the cheque.
Frances Dunsmore has run the group with Betty Ingram for 38 years and has the indispensable help of Rose Kennedy.
Frances said: “The playscheme is open to eight to 14-year-olds and we regularly have around 20 to 30 attending each week.
“As with every other organisation these days, however, money is scarce and so this funding from the area committee is a brilliant boost.
“It will enable us to take them to the pantomime and give us something special for the festive season.”
Both councillors were delighted by the popularity of the group.
Councillor Clearie said: “I have known about the great work done by the playscheme for many years now and am constantly encouraged by the work they do to offer local young people a group that they can belong to and want to enjoy. Any assistance they can be given is well-deserved.”
Councillor Tullett added: “A group like this for young people is an invaluable asset to any area and to keep it running and popular for the best part of four decades is astonishing. I’m delighted that the area committee has been able to help them out.”