A service for young carers has been revived by a Musselburgh-based youth project, thanks to new funding.

The Bridges Project, in Bogpark Road, has relaunched its Young Carers Service, which delivers “individually tailored, person-centred support” to carers aged 15 to 25 in East Lothian.

This follows a two-year grant from the Triangle Trust’s 1949 Fund.

The service will provide bespoke, one-to-one support, which will enable young people with caring responsibilities to continue in higher and further education and training.

Alongside this, the service will ensure that young carers and young adult carers are equipped to juggle the dual role of being a student and a carer.

Niamh Mitchell will be responsible for delivering the service as the new support worker (young carers).

She comes from a role as a bereavement support worker with Richmond’s Hope, where she provided one-to-one support to young people aged four to 18 who have experienced bereavement.

She also has experience of coaching young people for Pentland Gymnastics.

Niamh, who also holds a criminology degree from Edinburgh Napier University, said: “I look forward to supporting young people who do not have as high aspirations and help them develop the skills they need to reach a positive destination.

“It will also be great to help young people to believe in themselves, regardless of their circumstances, and help them to achieve what they want to achieve.”

Bridges Project has a long tradition of providing young carers services, having previously delivered East Lothian Council-funded young carers services for nearly ten years.

When the last funding agreement with the council expired last year, a large number of the young carers supported at the time stated that they would like “more intensive, one-to-one support”.

A spokesman for the Bridges Project said: “The fact that there are also an estimated 1,500-3,000 young carers in East Lothian means that the need for the service is well-evidenced in the council area.”

The Young Carers Service will provide one-to-one support to 30 young carers and young adult carers in East Lothian each year.

Young people using the service will also be able to participate in a range of different Bridges Project groups.

These include college preparation groups, confidence-building courses, social groups, such as art and cooking groups, and industry-specific employability workshops, such as the construction industry programme Build You Up and the beauty industry programme Glow Up.

They will have the opportunity to gain accreditations such as the Tenancy Award, and SCQF Level 4 qualifications such as the PlayBack ICE units Developing Confidence for Employment and Citizenship.

They will also be able to access all the other services offered at Bridges Project.

Niamh said: “I have had a warm welcome from everyone.

“Everyone is so welcoming and supportive of each other, which makes a huge difference!”