THE Fraser Centre Community Trust has been awarded £1.2million from the Big Lottery Fund towards its renovation project.

The trust is raising funds for its ambitious project to turn the centre into a community hub.

The award comes a week after the centre received £730,000 from the Scottish Government's Town Centre Regeneration Fund and takes the trust closer to the £2.4million needed to carry out the work they plan.

Jonny Russell, chairman of the trust, said: “I am absolutely delighted with this award and the faith the Big Lottery Fund have shown in our project. To have this level of support is fantastic and brings us a huge step closer to our fundraising target.

"This award is the result of over three years work and we have had a lot of support in that time. In particular we would like to thank the Big Lottery Growing Community Assets team, Community Enterprise and our design team, led by NORR, who have all been a huge help.

"The trust has received fantastic support from the community with people completing surveys or attending consultation days. Our team of volunteers have helped fundraise with events and challenges and we have also received many letters from individuals, groups and businesses backing the project.

"On behalf of the trust, we thank everyone for their support which helped demonstrate to the Big Lottery Fund the level of community support behind us.”

David Orr, development manager of the trust, said the award was a 'great step in the right direction' as it continues to fundraise for the project.,

He appealed to anyone who wants to support the centre or help to get in touch through the Friends of the Fraser Centre website.

Maureen McGinn, chairperson of the Big Lottery Fund Scotland, said: "I am delighted that Tranent will benefit from a new state of the art community hub, thanks to this contribution from the National Lottery. Since its launch ten years ago, our Growing Community Assets fund has invested £98 million in 181 projects across the country.

"This award to The Fraser Centre Community Trust is another great example of local people doing it for themselves and I look forward to following their progress as they pursue their community ownership ambitions.”

For further information on The Fraser Centre project please visit www.friendsofthefrasercentre.com or email david@thefrasercentre.com.