Charity cash will feed growth of grassroots groups across Lothians

MORE than £50,000 worth of grants has been dished out to worthy causes across the Lothians, thanks to Sport Relief and the Evening News.

The pot was shared between 50 grassroots organisations, including clubs, sports groups and charities in need of a cash injection of up to £1000.

The money is set to be spent on expanding various organisations, buying new equipment and putting on further educational classes.

Of all the applicants, 72 per cent were awarded funding of between £425 and £1000.

They include the Leith Sea Cadets, who will invest the cash in a new dinghy, Liberton/Gilmerton Sports Forum, which intends to spend its money on equipment and publicity costs for their Sportsfest 2012 Olympics event, and RHC Rugby Football Club, who will provide a free rugby coaching programme for young people.

Judith McDermid, 44, who is helping develop the five-acre Polbeth and West Calder community garden, said they were “delighted” with their £1000 award. She said: “We decided to set up the garden after nursery school parents saw their kids planting seeds and wanted to do it themselves.

“Myself and the chair, Lisa Brinnan, identified a site and pulled together a volunteer group of 12. They’ve been working for over a year. The children’s garden has been designed by Scottish Agricultural College HND students. We need to put in paths for accessibility as, at the moment, it’s overgrown. It’s a great hide-and-seek wild place and we want to hold on to that, but also plant edible plants the children can forage. My breath was taken away when I heard about the funding, I was delighted.”

White Ribbon, an organisation against violence to woman, also welcomed a £1000 cash injection. Campaign Co-ordinator Callum Hendry, 28, from Morningside said: “We’re part of an international campaign to engage with men and boys, and end violence against woman.

“We were launched last year, and as a result Seton Boys’ Club became the first youth football team to support us by wearing the white ribbon during matches. We want to host a 16-team football tournament for all the teams in that area, offer educational sessions and campaign materials. It’s something we’ve wanted to do since last year, but we weren’t sure how to deliver this.”

The one-day tournament will take place in August, although a date is yet to be announced.

Broxburn Amateur Boxing Club was gifted £903 to buy new equipment. Senior coach David Morrison, 46, said: “It was founded just over 18 months ago and we’re affiliated with Amateur Boxing Scotland. We’ve been running sessions for boys and girls, eight-year olds and upwards. But our membership has grown and we need new equipment, such as a junior boxing opponent bag and one for 12 years and up. It’s a voluntary organisation, we get our money from members’ fees, so this will help a lot.”

ALL THE WINNERS

East Lothian:

• Dunbar Arts Trust

• Loanhead Pigeon Club

• Lothian Disability Badminton Club

• Mayfield and Easthouses Development Trust

• Meadowbank Gymnastics Club

• The Fraser Centre Community Trust

• Tynepark Multimedia Group

• Wallyford Community Centre

• Wynding Down Project

Edinburgh City n Africa Centre Scotland:

• Arts South Edinburgh

• Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh

• Blackhall Playgroup

• Boroughmuir Cricket Club

• Cassel-Kirk Neighbourhood Association

• Clermiston and Drumbrae Children’s Gala

• Community Connections Scotland Limited

• Dance Ihayami

• Edinburgh Spirals

• Gorgie/Dalry Toy Library

• Leith Sea Cadets

• Liberton After School Club

• Liberton Gilmerton Sports Forum

• Little Steps

• Lothian Special Olympics

• Murrayburn Primary School Parent Council

• Muslim Women’s Association of Edinburgh

• Pregnancy and Parents Centre

• RHC Rugby Football Club

• Riding for the Disabled Ravelrig

• Sighthill Community Centre

• St Teresa’s Arts and Craft Club

• Third Age Computer Fun

• Warm Hearts Quilting Group

• White Ribbon Scotland

Midlothian:

• Beeslack All Stars Disabled Sports Club

• Girlguiding Midlothian

• Loanhead Community Development Association

• Loanhead Miners Charitable Society

• Midlothian Gymnastics

• Penicuik Community Arts Association (PCAA)

• Samaritans (Edin&Lothians)

• Seasons

• South Edinburgh Handball Club

• Thornton Rose Ride-Ability Group

• Woodburn Women’s Health and Motivation

West Lothian:

• Boghall Drop-In and Resource Centre

• Broxburn Amateur Boxing Club

• GreenFerry Trust

• KidzecoCIC

• Polbeth and West Calder Community Garden

• Preston Playgroup