Led by Provost Margaret Cooper, it will encourage fundraising for local good causes in South Lanarkshire.

It was agreed at a previous meeting of the South Lanarkshire Council that the first beneficiary of the new initiative would be Kilbryde Hospice.

The initiative sees an innovative partnership between the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire’s office and the Provost’s Office.

And the council’s Housing Services Team raised £2,200 for the fund.

Provost Cooper said: “I would like to thank all the staff from Housing Services who went out their way to raise money for our initiative. It will be put to good use, and we are well on our way to raising a significant amount of money for the Kilbryde Hospice.”

Executive director of housing and technical resources, Stephen Gibson, said: “We were all delighted to support this worthwhile cause and I would like to thank the generosity of the staff who contributed.”