THIS week, we saw early signs that spring is in the air. With the days getting a little lighter and longer, people are looking to get out into their gardens and to take a walk.

In Gifford, near where I live, the community woodland is proving popular for families and older residents.

But we should still remember that, for many people, winter proves long and lonely. Recently, a constituent contacted me to say she lost her husband last year and was finding it difficult to meet new people who may also have lost loved ones.

That got me thinking that there is so much more we can do to tackle loneliness and social isolation.

Prior to being elected, I did some voluntary work with Age Scotland, who do a power of work in tackling age-related isolation.

The findings of the Scottish Household survey 2020, published in 2022, found that 35 per cent of adults reported feeling lonely at least some of the time in the last week and 44 per cent rarely or never met others socially.

It’s crystal clear there is so much more we can do.

Sometimes informal groups and organisations do exist – but are not widely promoted. Or sometimes people have an idea for an event or group but don’t know how to promote it, or where to meet.

That’s why I am dedicating my column to this theme today. If you’re running a group that you’d like to promote, drop me a note and I’ll make sure I put it into my newsletter and on my community noticeboard in Haddington.

Or, if you’re thinking about establishing a group but don’t know where to start, then drop me a line and let’s explore how we might get it up and running.

I know from many of my constituents, including the lady that came to see me last week, that there is much more we can do if we work together on this issue.