A DOZEN groups in the Musselburgh area have received funding to provide free taster sessions to give local people new experiences in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Project 21, launched by Musselburgh Area Partnership, which distributes a council budget to local schemes, welcomed applications for funding, with a total of £21,000 on offer to community organisations.

Iain Clark, area partnership chairman, said: “The pandemic has had a huge effect on all aspects of our lives. This project helps clubs and organisations to reconnect with people of all ages and, through these additional taster sessions and activities, goes some way to help reduce social isolation and improve the mental health of people throughout our community.”

The groups which applied and received between £200 and £500 were:

l Wallyford Parents & Carers Council (Wallyford Primary School) for a gardening taster session open to the whole community;

l East Lothian Schools – Active Schools to provide pupils at Musselburgh Grammar School with taster sessions, including CrossFit, gymnastics and dance, which will all be delivered in partnership with local sports coaches and clubs;

l Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland to deliver reminiscence, social and inclusive physical activities that improve the mental and physical wellbeing of isolated people aged 50 and over living with dementia, depression and other long-term conditions;

l First Step Community Project to offer a variety of taster sessions focusing on wellbeing, including cooking, arts, pilates/yoga and walking;

l Whitecraig Village Hub for taster activities such as fitness, yoga/pilates, sporting activity and creative crafts. It is hoped that this will encourage the local community to re-engage with the new facility and try out new activities;

l Eskmuthe Coastal Rowing Club to provide young people an opportunity to learn to row;

l Musselburgh Art Club for three taster sessions to encourage new members interested in or considering arts and crafts, painting in acrylic, oils, watercolour, gouache or pastels, or crafts including felting, making cards for special occasions, calligraphy and embroidery;

l Musselburgh Sea Cadets to provide taster sessions created as part of the National Sea Cadets Growth and Development Team to give young people (and adults who may want to volunteer) an insight into the activities of the sea cadets;

l Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club for a joint project with Cycling Without Age, opening the doors to the clubhouse on the first Tuesday of every month, when members of the community can enjoy social activities and entertainment after arriving, and then departing on a trishaw – a three-wheel cycle with a passenger cab;

l Clark Community Choir to provide free come and try sessions to both adults and young people accompanied with an adult;

l Changes Community Health Project to offer activities around supporting people’s wellbeing, connecting with nature, connecting with other people and tackling social isolation;

l Musselburgh Congregational Church’ TGI youth group to introduce young people over 10 to curling, supported by the curling club at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.