THREE good causes have benefited from a share of more than £1,000 through an initiative offering people the chance to buy second-hand clothes.

The Big Pick raised the money through a series of successful events held across East Lothian.

Hosted by East Lothian’s community payback work team and supported by Reuse Scotland SCIO, the events aim to reduce clothing poverty, textile waste, and provide a means for individuals to give back to their local communities.

Since its initial event in June, the Big Pick has hosted a further four events raising more than £1,000.

Gavin Conington, community payback work team manager, was delighted to hand over the raised funds to the Bridges Project in Musselburgh, Lothian Cat Rescue East Lothian and Musselburgh Burgh Primary School’s Nurture Breakfast Club.

The Bridges Project supports young people aged 12-21 who face barriers to education, employment or personal development.

Through mentoring and skills-building programs, they help young people develop the confidence and opportunities needed for a brighter future.

Simen Jordsmyr Holm, fundraising and communications manager at the Bridges Project, said: “Thank you very much! What an amazing initiative you are doing with the Big Pick.

“We are delighted that Bridges Project has been chosen as one of the charities to receive a donation.

“This support is much appreciated and will make a real difference to the young people we support.”

Musselburgh Burgh Primary School’s Nurture Breakfast Club were just as enthusiastic.

Jon Doyle, headteacher, said: “This is lovely news and very much appreciated.

"Your donation will be extremely valuable to the running of our Nurture Breakfast Club and will be very gratefully received."

His message was reiterated by the children attending the club, who sent letters of thanks to the community payback work team.

Community payback orders are imposed by the court to support a person to address their offending behaviour.

Individuals are supported by the justice social work team to complete a series of requirements to facilitate changes in behaviour, which can often include spending designated time ‘paying back’ to the local community by completing unpaid work activities.

As part of the Big Pick initiative, individuals who are required to complete unpaid work activities have been working on this project by sorting out clothes that are donated to clothes banks.

They are then taken to pop-up venues throughout East Lothian, giving members of the public the opportunity to buy clothes at significantly discounted rates of £3 per kilo, with shoes and jackets sold separately.

As well as addressing immediate clothing poverty issues, the Big Pick project also supports the council’s wider environmental agenda by reducing waste, improving outcomes for local communities, and supporting the work of charities by donating all proceeds from the events to local causes.

Fiona Wilson, chief officer and joint director of East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “The Big Pick events are proving to be incredibly valuable, supporting individuals and communities as well as reducing poverty and textile waste.

"The project is also enabling individuals involved in the justice system to make a valuable contribution during their period of reparation.

"I’m grateful to the justice social work and community payback work teams for their continued efforts and am delighted to hear the Big Pick events will be organised on a regular basis going forward.”