A MUSSELBURGH-based charity working with disadvantaged children and young people in East Lothian and Midlothian has received a cash boost of £110,433 from BBC Children in Need.

The funding to the Bridges Centre, awarded over three years, will go towards the salary costs of a full-time personal development worker to deliver a programme of individual and small group support to 12-18-year-olds.

This will help young people develop their skills and aspirations for the future as the service seeks to build their emotional resilience and help them create positive relationships, enabling them to achieve their full potential.

The grant, which was allocated through Children in Need’s Main Grants Programme, is its first funding allocation of the year, with additional cash-aid being distributed to projects across the UK throughout 2019.

Jim Boyle, chief executive of the Bridges Project, which is based on Musselburgh’s Bogpark Road, said: “We’ve been receiving funding from BBC Children in Need now for the last 10 years and, in that time, have been able to make a difference to hundreds of young people’s lives.

“We’re delighted that we’ll be able to continue this for another three years in collaboration with our partners in education, social work, health and the voluntary sector.”

Florence Burke, national head of Scotland at BBC Children in Need, said: “We are delighted to fund the work of the Bridges Project and look forward to seeing the difference that this grant will make to children and young people across the region.”

Simon Antrobus, BBC Children in Need’s chief executive, added: “As always, thanks must go to our generous supporters and fundraisers. We are only able to make these much-needed awards because of them.”

In East Lothian and Midlothian, BBC Children in Need is currently funding nine projects to a value of £571,000.

Across Scotland, it has more than £17.5 million invested in projects making a positive difference to the lives of disadvantaged young people.

For information on how to apply for funding, visit bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants