A PARTNERSHIP between a local charity and a Haddington sports club has left two national organisations bowled over.

Our Community Kitchen and Haddington Bowling Club have been working together for more than two years to tackle social isolation in the town.

Volunteers have prepared meals in the bowling club’s clubhouse, on the town’s Wemyss Place, before dishing them up to visitors.

That has changed during the coronavirus pandemic, with the food being delivered to people throughout the town.

The hard work has earned praise from sportscotland, the national agency for sport, and Bowls Scotland.

Sarah Pryde-Smith, Bowls Scotland national development manager, said: “We know how difficult and challenging these past few months have been, but we are heartened to see clubs like Haddington supporting each other and their local communities.

“This partnership approach between Haddington Bowling Club and Our Community Kitchen is an excellent example of why bowling clubs truly are at the heart of the community and we are delighted to see the club being able to provide a much-needed service to the local area.

“We are now in phase three of our return to the green and our clubs have demonstrated resilience, patience and creativity throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We will continue to work collectively to ensure our wonderful game returns stronger than ever.”

Before the global pandemic, the bowling club – which is the oldest in Scotland, dating back to 1709 – gave volunteers full use of its facilities three times a week.

Up to 90 people visited each day for a three-course meal and an afternoon chatting with new-found friends.

However, with social gatherings banned, the volunteers revamped the model.

The charity has 66 volunteers, who worked four days per week during lockdown, preparing hot meals in the bowling club kitchen to deliver to residents’ homes.

They delivered 300 meals every week.

Stewart Harris, chief executive of sportscotland, said: “It is heartening to see the great work being done in East Lothian, with so many people coming together to help others.”

Elaine Gale, Our Community Kitchen founder, said: “We feel our partnership with Haddington Bowling Club is wonderful and unique.

“The committee and members have always been so welcoming, they have helped us raise funds and offered help in plenty of other ways, too.

“We simply could not do what we do without them and I feel this is a perfect opportunity to say a huge thank you to them.

“We have all made new friends through this venture, which can’t be underestimated.”

Colin Dick, club secretary at Haddington Bowling Club, said the club was desperate to help the community in any way it could.

He said: “It’s a great relationship actually; we see ourselves as partners.

“We’ve found our members attending the community kitchen during the week.

“It is a balance because we are a bowling club and we have a responsibility to our members but equally we want to try to help our community wherever we can.”