THREE hundred pounds from the proceeds of a January fundraiser has been handed over to a Peeblesshire initiative set up amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Last month the Rotary Club of Innerleithen, Walkerburn & Traquair ran a curry lunch.

And on Tuesday, February 14, president Robin Tatler gave the cash to ‘Warm Wednesdays’ in the Hall of Friendship at Innerleithen Parish Church.

Warm Wednesdays is one of the initiatives launched to provide a welcoming environment following the surge in the cost of living, especially energy prices.

Families are welcome to go along to the hall for the entire school day, where they are provided with a light lunch and tea/coffee.

Among other things, cookery demonstrations are performed.

The organisation has bought and distributed slow cookers to several of the attendees. Microwave and casserole cooking have also been explained.

One of the other local Warm Spaces initiatives, Walkerburn’s FoodHugs, supplies freshly baked bread for the lunches.

Assistance has also been offered to those attending, in the completion of online forms utilizing the hall’s Wifi.

Up to 25 families can participate in this local support scheme run by active volunteers from the church and local community.

It’s not just the Warm Wednesdays that use the premises. RVS also use the hall and its facilities on Mondays and Fridays.

The CrafTin Group and the Chain Gang Choir are there on alternate Tuesday afternoons, on Thursday mornings a Mother and Toddler Group meet and on Thursday afternoons, a Tea and Chat group enjoy the warmth there and the first Sunday of the month sees soup lunches being offered and enjoyed there.