A NEW scheme to provide financial help to North Berwick businesses hit by the Covid-19 emergency has been launched.

North Berwick Trust is initially offering grants of up to £5,000 to small businesses or self-employed people who have ‘fallen through the cracks’ of UK and Scottish Government schemes and are not currently in receipt of any Covid-related grants from other sources. 

The Trust’s Olwyn Owen said the intention was to award grants every month for at least the next six months.

“The Trust has set up a Business Focus Group to help us take the scheme forward, but we are on a steep learning curve and would welcome ideas and suggestions from businesses and the wider community,” she said.

“One idea is for the Trust to help fund the infrastructure that businesses will need for social distancing such as signage, queue barriers, screens, or deep cleaning equipment.

“We also want to explore what else would help the town’s businesses to open up safely as soon as they can.”

Until now, the Trust had been focused on helping to fund the work of the community council’s resilience efforts and the Kindness Co-operative.

Trust chair Sir David Tweedie said: “But knowing how vital local businesses are to the continuing viability of the town centre and the success of the wider community, and how badly many businesses have been affected by Covid-19, the Trust is now turning its attention to their needs.”

Applications may be made now. For further information, email cath@northberwicktrust.co.uk

North Berwick Trust was set up as a charity in 1973 to support recreation, education and local amenities alongside ‘the relief of suffering of residents’.

Its money comes from the sale in 2016 of 53 acres of land previously owned by the then North Berwick Town Council, which raised £16m.  

About 50 acres of land at Mains Farm is still owned by the Trust.