I USED the final week of Parliament’s conference recess to undertake a range of constituency visits and meetings with local groups and businesses.

Among these was Jerba Campervans, an outstanding local business located just outside North Berwick. It is one of only a handful of businesses in the UK carrying out accredited conversions for VW, and soon Ford, campervans. The business is also 100 per cent employee owned and I was pleased to chat with co-founder and director Simon Poole about the various benefits the business has derived since it adopted this model in 2018.

Members of East Lammermuir Community Council and local residents invited me to visit them to discuss the significant number of energy projects that are affecting the area. They shared various concerns regarding the number of applications for energy developments being submitted around Innerwick and neighbouring villages, and highlighted the impact they believe this will have on people’s homes and the natural environment.

I also caught up with Maureen Allan, chief officer at Volunteer Centre East Lothian (VCEL) in Tranent on its work supporting the 600 or so local community and charitable groups that operate in the county. As I have acknowledged in previous columns, these voluntary groups are at the heart of our communities. They undertake vital activity across a whole range of sectors, so it is essential that they have good advice and assistance on hand locally when they need it, which is where VCEL comes in.

One charity I am pleased to see extend its work into East Lothian is Richmond’s Hope, which supports bereaved children and young people aged four to 18. It has launched a new East Lothian service which will be operating two days a week from the Bleachingfield Centre in Dunbar.

I was unable to attend their launch due to Parliamentary business but look forward to visiting in the future. Visit richmondshope.org.uk for more information about the charity’s services.