A FUNDING scheme which has helped raise nearly £100,000 for projects throughout East Lothian and Midlothian has been extended.

The Crowdfund Scotland programme, which provides one-to-one support for fundraisers, has been extended by funding body LEADER until July.

Crowdfund Scotland has helped a number of projects in East Lothian in the last two years, including the Belhaven Surf Centre and also Puffin Prints to Save Scottish Seabird Centre.

Belhaven Surf Centre sought funds to fit out its new premises and raised more than £8,000, while Puffin Prints was one of the most successful projects, raising more than £13,000 to help safeguard the Seabird Centre during its closure due to Covid-19.

Sam Christopherson, managing director of Belhaven Surf Centre, was delighted with the support.

He said: “The crowdfunded support was invaluable, allowing the new surf centre to connect with the surf community and gain its support financially.

“This allowed the charity to furnish the building and buy safety equipment and communication technology. This gave the platform for a wide variety of local and national surf, environmental and safety organisations to organise talks, courses and social events in the centre.”

For more information or to talk through a project idea, email kirsty@crowdfunder.co.uk or angela.lamont@midlothian.gov.uk