AN APPEAL has been launched for funding to help a community project which works with about 300 families a year in the Musselburgh area.

A fundraising campaign is now under way at First Step, which is currently operating on a reduced family support service ahead of its 30th anniversary celebrations next year.

A ‘Friends of First Step’ scheme looks set to be formed and events will also be held to raise funds for the Galt Avenue-based facility, which covers Musselburgh, Wallyford and Whitecraig.

After the organisation’s Big Lottery funding for five years came to an end, it recently received another Big Lottery cash boost of £150,000 for two years and £150,000 from the Henry Smith Charity’s improving lives fund for three years. This will go towards the costs of First Step’s family support service, which offers groups and classes for parents, an outreach and respite service and a senior family coordinator.

Tina Pollock, project manager, said: “The service brings families together.

“We offer a mix of parenting groups such as praising children with confidence. It is a mixture of play-based groups and we do skills development for parents.

“We did a consultation with the local community and what came out of that was First Step was a really valuable service which families needed and benefited from. With the area’s growing population, it helped to bring the community together, especially with the new houses which are being built and people moving into the area.

“It is a place for people to meet and build social relationships, and for their children to mix together as well.

“A lot of people access the service – around 300 families a year.”

She added that funding for the core service was provided by East Lothian Council, which also owned the building.

Miss Pollock said: “We are still looking for funding as we are running a reduced family support service.

“We have had to combine posts and reduce staff hours so we can still provide the service and we are doing a lot of fundraising.

“We are still running but we are looking at different ways to generate more income to bring in more services. So many people are competing for the same pot of money.”

An afternoon tea is held at Inveresk Church Hall on Dalrymple Loan, Musselburgh, on Saturday, 12.30-1.30pm, with tickets available from First Step. This is followed by a race night on November 17 at the Ship Inn. Local businesses are needed to sponsor races and tickets are available from First Step.

Early years childcare for youngsters aged 18 months to five years is also provided in the ‘Wee Bears’ and ‘Big Bears’ playrooms, funded through First Step’s service level agreement with East Lothian Council.

Miss Pollock said local businesses had given donations towards First Step in the past, including for the garden and support in kind by painting a mural.

She added: “There is a mixture of ways people can help us. Sometimes it isn’t always financial, it’s their time as well, which saves us having to bring other people in to do stuff.

“We are hoping to launch a Friends of First Step at our AGM on November 7. It is about people giving a monthly donation towards services.”

First Step was set up by a group of local parents who wanted somewhere safe and comfortable where they could meet and their children could play. The project now employs 12 members of staff and is supported by volunteers including a board made up of parents and members of the community.

Anyone who wishes to help out can email project manager@firststepmusselburgh.co.uk