A MEETING to “help shape the future” of a town’s heritage group takes place next week.

After receiving support from Accelerate (a Scottish Government-funded initiative) and Volunteer Centre East Lothian (VCEL), North Berwick Environment and Heritage Trust (NBEHT) has been advised to become a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO).

The trust’s committee now wants to hear members’ views and ideas for its future, with the meeting “the first step in this process”.

Olwyn Owen, chair of NBEHT, said: “North Berwick Environment and Heritage Trust was founded over 50 years ago and is one of the oldest groups operating in North Berwick.

“In recent years, the scope of our activities has greatly increased. For example, we are leading the campaign to conserve and enhance St Andrew’s Kirk Ports; we manage the restored phone cabins at the west end of High Street with their changing exhibitions; and we publish a series of heritage guides, among other things.

“Some of our major projects are not covered by our current charitable objectives, so we need to change our constitution in order to ‘future-proof’ the trust.

“We’d love more people to come on board and help us decide how best to move forward. Everyone is welcome to join us at the meeting.”

The meeting takes place on Monday, 7pm at Steampunk Coffee, Kirk Ports.

SCIO status would see NBEHT remain a charity but also become a legal entity and corporate body.

The trust believes that SCIO status would be especially important for undertaking and obtaining funding for large projects such as its plan to conserve St Andrew’s Kirk Ports.

Those with experience of setting up a SCIO and who would like to help are invited to get in touch.

The trust’s aim is to bring a formal proposal for members’ approval to its AGM on Tuesday, March 26, in St Andrew Blackadder Church.