The One Council Partnership Fund has issued over £1.3 million to 46 county organisations to support partnership working with the authority to help communities build resilience and capacity, contributing to council priorities including reducing poverty and inequality. It recognises the significant contribution that voluntary and community organisations make to East Lothian’s health and wellbeing and vibrancy. An additional £1.3m has been awarded to Community Councils and Area Partnerships.

Applications were evaluated to ensure that grant funding is coordinated and targeted to support the priorities detailed in the East Lothian Council Plan, the East Lothian Partnership’s Local Outcome Improvement Plan and other related strategies. In particular, funding awards have been made to support reduction of inequalities across the population; many community organisations have proved vital in helping residents affected by cost of living and other challenges.

Projects include:

• Battle of Prestonpans [1745] Heritage Trust £20,000
• Bridges Project: £47,262
• Carefree Kids East Lothian: £13,600
• East Lothian Friendly Food Network: £30,971
• East Lothian Swim Team: £9600
• First Step Community Project: £195,860
• Fraser Centre Community Trust: £5000
• Lower Impact Living: £5000
• New Beginnings Club East Lothian: £6000

Over £630,000 was awarded in agreements with Dadswork, East Lothian Advice Consortium, Heavy Sounds CIC, North Berwick Youth Project, Pennypit Community Development Trust, Recharge and Volunteer Centre East Lothian.

Community groups and organisations are signposted to external funding streams to encourage income maximisation from a wide range of sources. Council officers work in partnership with Volunteer Centre East Lothian (VCEL) to share potential funding options and offer training and support where required.

Almost £132,000 has been awarded to Community Councils and the Association of Community Councils. The six Area Partnerships’ combined funding is £1.215m which is a mixture of direct finance and budgetary influence over council services such as amenities or roads services to reflect the locally agreed priorities.

East Lothian Council’s head of communities and partnerships, Caroline Rodgers, said: “I’m pleased that we can continue to support these organisations who do so much good work for the people of East Lothian through our One Council Partnership Fund. The strong partnerships we have with our community groups and organisations allows us to support our most vulnerable residents and better achieve our aims of reducing poverty and inequality.

“Many of these groups, including our Community Councils and Area Partnerships, harness the skills and goodwill of volunteers to maximise their impact; we would all be poorer without their involvement. These funding awards reflect the fantastic work that they undertake and the significant impact of their achievements.”