A £120,000 GRANT has been given to a group which provides play schemes for children with severe and complex needs.

Can Do, previously East Lothian Special Needs Playscheme (ELSNP), received the funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Elaine Alsop, finance manager at Can Do, was delighted with the funding announcement, with the money going to support the playscheme set up at The Hub, in Tranent’s Sanderson’s Wynd Primary School.

She said: “The National Lottery had supported us before.

“We had three years of funding over the last three years.

“We reapplied and were really lucky to get it over another three years.”

The funding will allow the group to continue to operate a specialist playscheme for children aged five to 16 with severe and complex needs over the school holidays.

Over three years, 40 children and their families/carers will benefit, as will 60 volunteers.

ELSNP was set up in 1982, with two groups of 12 children coming along for two activity days a week.

Charitable status quickly followed, as did the establishment of a hugely successful volunteering programme with local secondary schools, with a recent name change to Can Do.

The funding is part of £12.5 million given by the National Lottery to more than 300 groups across the country.

Kate Still, the National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland chair, said: “These awards, made possible by National Lottery players, recognise the incredible work happening across Scotland to create stronger, more connected communities.

“I am delighted that some of this funding will be used to transform existing buildings into vibrant community hubs that will carry on the strong community spirit that has been so evident in recent times.

“National Lottery players can be proud to know that money they raise by buying tickets is continuing to make such a difference.”