A FUNDRAISING appeal has been launched as one of East Lothian’s oldest day centres looks for a new set of wheels.

Dunbar Day Centre is hoping to raise about £50,000 to buy a minibus that would allow service users to enjoy day trips.

Claire Ainslie, acting manager at the day centre, said: “At the moment, we outsource our transport, which is a great cost to us.

“We get funding from the council towards the transport cost but it still costs us money on top of that.

“We are limited to what we can do because obviously the company has other tenders. We are hoping to raise money to buy our own bus to give us freedom.

“It also allows us to do other things through day trips, to go places about the countryside and to give us more freedom.”

Fundraising started last month, with people able to make donations online or by contacting the day centre on the town’s Westgate.

Already, more than £2,000 has been raised.

Claire, who has worked at the day centre for four years, was keen to highlight that the service was back up and running following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The day centre offers a range of activities and opportunities, including gardening, creative writing and tea dances, tailored to individual interests.

Claire added: “The day centre is one of the oldest in East Lothian.

“It was established in 1976 and the location of the day centre is not a very obvious place.

“We are at Westgate right beside St Anne’s Church, not on High Street but just off it.

“We are providing support to older people, their families and carers in Dunbar and the surrounding area.

“We try to offer a comfortable home-from-home environment.”

To make a donation, go to justgiving.com/cam paign/dunbardaycentre or call 01368 862843.