MORE than £20,000 has been awarded to a series of projects in Macmerry.

About 150 people turned out for an open day in Macmerry Village Hall to offer their suggestions for the funding through the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

Nearly half of the people at the event highlighted activities for young people as their top priority, while calls for a community cafe also attracted support.

Now, both priorities have been awarded the lion’s share of the CRT’s £24,000 participatory budget.

About £12,000 will be for young people’s projects, with Macmerry Miners Welfare Club receiving £9,000 to launch a local cafe.

Among those receiving youth awards was Macmerry Bowling Club, which received £1,500 to buy junior-sized bowls to encourage young people to take up the sport.

Elliot Dickson, club secretary, said: “We have a problem attracting young people to take up bowling and this wonderful award will help us address the issue.

“Younger children can’t enjoy the game if they play with full-sized bowls because they can’t get their hands round them and can only get them halfway up the green.

“We plan to use our new mini bowls in classes for local schoolchildren from Primary 4 to teenagers, with the offer of a free membership to those who complete the eight-week course.

“The new bowls will let them enjoy the game to the full and head off the very real possibility that East Lothian won’t be able to field an under-25 team in a couple of years, unless we act now.” Other groups receiving money included the newly formed 1st Macmerry Cubs and Beavers, who received £2,226 for equipment.

Macmerry Primary PTA received £1,300 for outdoor play equipment, while the children’s gala received £7,500 for new equipment.

Macmerry Line Dancers got £500 for a mobile microphone and sound system, while £2,000 was set aside for a community newsletter and noticeboard.

Finally, the over-50s club, was given £360 for catering equipment.