Venturing Out and Our Community Kitchen receive cash boost

Venturing Out CIC, based near Tranent, and Haddington’s Our Community Kitchen were among those receiving cash from the Tyne & Esk Rural Communities Development Fund in the past two years.

Venturing Out CIC received £28,496 to buy 23 bikes, a trailer, helmets and a storage container.

The not-for-profit company offers “adventures for all”, ranging from holiday activities for children or a coastal journey on paddleboards to a staff team away day or a private party.

Adventures booked through Venturing Out are offered to local families whose children have additional support needs and those living with financial hardship.

Claire Mackenzie, director of Venturing Out CIC, said: “Venturing Out CIC was delighted to receive funding which has enabled us to purchase a fleet of mountain bikes and a container.

“This has enabled us to increase the accessibility of our cycling activities by being able to provide bikes.

“Through providing bikes, we have removed one of the major barriers to accessing cycling-based activities.”

The Tyne & Esk Rural Communities Development Fund is part of the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) funding stream from the Scottish Government.

The Tyne & Esk Community Led Local Development Programme benefits groups in both East Lothian and Midlothian

The funding aims to support local rural communities and business networks to build knowledge and skills.

Our Community Kitchen works to reduce isolation for people of all ages and abilities by bringing people together around a table for a fresh, nutritious meal.

A two-course meal is served four times a week from Haddington Bowling Club, while the group also grows food in the community garden at Knox Academy Meadowpark.

Our Community Kitchen was granted £14,322 to buy materials to help it grow its own produce in its garden at the town’s Tynebank Resource Centre.

Karen Dick, chair of the group, was delighted with the funding boost.

Our Community Kitchen regularly gets people around the dinner table

She said: “Our Community Kitchen (OCK) is incredibly grateful to have received a Tyne & Esk community grant towards establishing a community garden at Tynebank Resource Centre that is accessible to all.

“The purpose is to create a positive difference for those within the local community by providing a therapeutic and learning resource.”

Now the CLLD programme is awaiting confirmation from the Scottish Government regarding finance for 2024-2025.

Andrew McDonald, chair of Tyne & Esk CLLD, said: “The ‘Meet the Local Action Group’ event was a wonderful way to let Local Action Group members and representatives of funded projects celebrate some of the many ways that community-led funding has successfully and effectively made meaningful impacts to local, community-led initiatives.

“Although the programme timescales and funds so far have been limited, the local community impact has been considerable and we hope that the workshop discussions from this event will go some way to help pave the way for even greater future grant funding.”