The group has received almost a quarter of a million pounds from the Big Lottery fund.

An award of £240,928 funding for the next three years was announced last Tuesday afternoon.

The group, set up to support adults who would otherwise be isolated — particularly when society moved away from the idea of residential care to individual homes in the community — has struggled financially over recent years.

Now it will be able to expand its services and develop more projects for those it befriends.

Group chairman is Councillor Mary McNeill, who became involved in 1999, the year she became a councillor, and who is delighted that at last there is a solid funding foundation.

One of the first steps now is to recruit more people to serve on the group's management committee, and more importantly to recruit more volunteers.

Mary knows that volunteering with the group is not a glamorous option.

She said: ''Generally people who have an interest in adults with learning difficulties have a relative with learning difficulties, and they are exhausted.''

She herself became involved when she heard that staff of the Dale Centre in Lanark had organized a trip and did not have enough volunteers to help all those who wanted to go.

And, in the years since then, she has found the work rewarding, watching those befriended develop in confidence.

''You feel as if you are making a difference to people,'' she said.

The grant was also welcomed by Karen Gillon MSP, who said: 'I know from
first hand experience just what a difference the support offered has made to many adults with learning difficulties in Clydesdale''.

''They have grown in confidence, obtained new skills and developed lasting friendships independent of family and carers, which will serve them well in the future.

''I am convinced that the project is a huge benefit to people in Clydesdale and I am sure it will go from strength to strength,'' said Karen.

The group, which currently has 80 people on its books from all over the Clydesdale area, currently runs a Friends on Friday club in the Bridge Community Centre in Lanark, where members can come in to play darts or board games, or just sit and chat.

''It is a really relaxed atmosphere, there is nothing formal about it at all,'' said Christine McNally, who has been project
co-ordinator since 2006.

Volunteers can also work on a one-to-one basis with members, helping them if they want to take up an activity such as line-dancing, going shopping, or accompanying them on outings - these have included trips to the cinema and the Falkirk Wheel, and visits for meals.

With the lottery funding the group can now look at a number of activities. These include the Gateway Awards Programme — a scheme similar to the Duke of Edinburgh Award — a psycho-drama group, a news and focus group, youth volunteering opportunities, and home befriending.

The Lottery grant, along with £19,500 from Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, will put the group on a more sure footing.

However, Christine added: ''We would be grateful for more volunteers at this moment in time.''

Involvement depends on the number of hours a volunteer can give, whether that is a few hours a week or even just one hour.

For more information or if you would like to volunteer, contact Christine on Lanark 661655.