A funding boost will help to launch a new group programme for young people from Musselburgh.

The Bridges Project, based on Bogpark Road, has been given £14,500 by Musselburgh Area Partnership for the initiative until the end of March next year.

It will offer a wide range of social and accredited group activities to help young people to develop life skills, save money and improve their future prospects.

Nicola Melvin, who has spent the last few months leading groups as part of the project’s homemaker service, will deliver the programme.

She said: “It is massively important. There are not many services that offer these types of groups for young people in East Lothian and it will be particularly important to provide groups for the younger age range.

“This is an age range guidance teachers I have talked with say there is a particular lack of provision for.”

A flagship initiative is ‘Creative Arts Tuesdays’, which will feature a relaxed and informal art group.

A craft group will provide workshops for young people who want to work on specific art projects.

A life skills group will focus on areas such as self-travel, housing options and citizenship.

Ms Melvin is also hoping to deliver a ‘Planning Your Future’ group, aimed at S4, S5 and S6 pupils, which will focus on exploring goals, aspirations and passions in a creative way.

Social activities will also be an important aspect of the programme, so there will be a social group and one-off social events such as barbecues and trips to the pantomime.

Some joint groups that are in the planning stages include an active mental health group with Active Schools East Lothian, an animal therapy group with Changes, and a gardening group with Blue Triangle and Bridges Project’s Young Ambassadors.

Ms Melvin believes the groups on offer will potentially have “a massive impact” on young people’s development, helping them develop “vital life and social skills”.

She said: “The groups will be able to give young people a sense of belonging, help them develop vital life and social skills and improve their mental health through a natural, young person-led approach.

“It will provide a safe space where young people do something they enjoy while meeting other people without being judged.”

Emma Scarcliffe, Bridges Project’s CEO, added: “We are delighted to have received funding from Musselburgh Area Partnership to establish this much-needed provision for young people in the local community.

“Since the pandemic, we have seen a significant increase in young people having the desire to interact with their peers in a relaxed, fun and supportive environment.

“So many vital social and learning experiences were put on hold and I am thrilled we can offer these opportunities, which will have such an impact on young people in the area.”