Douglas Alexander MP has welcomed the announcement of the latest lottery funding awarded to local charities and community groups in the Lothian East constituency.
Among the groups to receive funding this time from the National Lottery Community Fund are the First Step Community Project, East Lothian Housing Association, East Lothian Roots and Fruits, and Meet and Mingle.
Commenting on the funding, Douglas Alexander MP said:
“These latest national lottery funding awards are a welcome boost to a range of important local charities, community groups and other initiatives in the Lothian East constituency.
“The investment made by the National Lottery Community Fund has a positive impact on the lives of some of the most vulnerable groups and individuals in our communities.
“I look forward to hearing more about how this funding will support and enhance the vital work being carried out by these local community groups.”
The full details of the funding awards are as follows:
Aberlour Child Care Trust received a £100,000 grant. This group will use the funding to continue to support new mums to reduce isolation, improve their and the new baby’s wellbeing and improve their emotional attachment.
Prestonpans Children’s Gala received a £6,319 grant. This group will provide the Prestonpans Children’s Gala across one week in June.
Stepping Out Project received a £122,682 grant. This group will support over 70 adults per year, in a community based mental health project. The people supported will be experiencing severe and enduring mental health conditions, poverty, trauma, isolation, as well as physical ill health.
East Lothian Housing Association received a £19,953 grant. This group will employ a volunteer coordinator to support handyperson volunteers for people aged 60 and over carrying out small repairs in East Lothian.
East Linton Gala Association received a £2,300 grant. This group will provide the annual Gala week for the community of East Linton, East Lothian. The 100-year tradition of the gala will run a week of activities for the 1,800 people in the community in 2026.
East Lothian mums club CIC received a £13,616 grant. This group will support up to 60 mums join in with walking groups and community activities. The project over one year will use local parks, leisure centres, and community venues to reduce the isolation of new mums.
Aberlour Child Care Trust received a £5,000 grant. This group will use funding to deliver a one-day, youth-led “Youth Voice” event in Summer 2026, designed and run by five Young Volunteer Planners and which brings together 30 young people from diverse backgrounds to connect, create and share experiences and views on what matters to them.
EAST LOTHIAN ROOTS AND FRUITS SCIO received a £18,328 grant. This group will provide a lunch club for older people who are isolated and have mobility challenges in Elphinstone, East Lothian.
Tranent Youth and Community Facility received a £19,911 grant. This group will celebrate 21 years of their youth support helping young people in Fa’side, Tranent.
Meet & Mingle (East Lothian) received a £10,000 grant. This group will support up to 70 women in East Lothian with two outings per year over the two-year project. The women will have long term illness, bereavement, mental health difficulties, menopause, and the pressures of caring for family members.
First Step Community Project received a £132,000 grant. This group will provide support to children and parents who experience poor mental health, limited support networks, financial difficulties, and challenges in family relationships. The group will support people through one-to-one and group work activities, in Musselburgh, Wallyford and Whitecraig.
The Warblers – Singing for Lung Health received a £18,000 grant. This group will provide singing lessons for people with breathing difficulties including COPD, asthma, and long Covid over two years in East and Midlothian.
The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.
Up to date information about all The National Lottery Community Fund funding programmes is available at www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes
Earlier this month, the Government published a call for evidence on National Lottery Good Cause funding to ensure that how this is distributed continues to reflect the needs and wants of today’s society.