Covid-19 news

Tenant Grant Fund to help with COVID-related rent arrears

East Lothian residents living in rented accommodation can now apply to East Lothian Council for financial help if they’ve fallen behind in their rent payments because of COVID-19.

Published 23rd December 2021.

Pop-up collection service offering COVID-19 home testing kits

COVID-19 home testing kits, suitable for people with no symptoms, will be available from a number of locations in the coming days.

Published 15th December 2021.

Update on operation of community buildings from 13th December

Ormiston Library is open today (13 December) and had been opening on Mondays and Fridays. However, it will remain closed this Friday (17 December) due to the ongoing shortage of essential staff.

Published 13th December 2021.

COVID-19 testing arrangements from 9th to 22nd August confirmed

The locations where East Lothian residents with no symptoms of COVID-19 can get tested over the next two weeks have been confirmed.

Published 5th August 2021.

COVID-19 testing arrangements from 2nd August confirmed

The locations where East Lothian residents with no symptoms of COVID-19 can get tested over the next week have been confirmed.

Published 30th July 2021.

COVID-19 testing arrangements from 26th July confirmed

The locations where East Lothian residents with no symptoms of COVID-19 can get tested over the next week have been confirmed.

Published 23rd July 2021.

Giftcard spending to help East Lothian businesses

East Lothian Giftcard recipients are being encouraged to spend their cards to help local businesses

Published 21st May 2021.

Council agrees £600k for business support

East Lothian Council has agreed to commit funding of £600k to support businesses and boost the economy as we move into the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published 29th April 2021.

More than £36 million in grant funding paid out to East Lothian businesses

East Lothian businesses have been supported by more than £36 million in funding from the Business Support Grants scheme, and other funds, administered by East Lothian Council.

Published 23rd April 2021.

Discretionary grant fund for business opens for final applications

If your business has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic but you have not been eligible for any government support grants so far, you may be able to apply for a one-off discretionary grant of £2k.

Published 22nd March 2021.

Discretionary grant fund for businesses re-opens

The second round of applications for East Lothian's Discretionary Grant Fund for businesses affected by COVID-19 opens at 9am on Thursday 25th February.

Published 24th February 2021.

Council approves rent freeze for council tenants

At a full meeting of East Lothian Council on Tuesday 23rd February, councillors approved an amendment tabled by the Administration to freeze rent on council properties for the year 2021/22.

Published 23rd February 2021.

Discretionary grant fund for businesses now open

If your business has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic but you have not been eligible for any government support grants so far, you may be able to apply for a one-off discretionary grant of £2k.

Published 1st February 2021.

More than £4million to be paid to East Lothian businesses this month

£4.2million is being paid to 534 East Lothian businesses in January as East Lothian Council teams have been working flat out to process applications and payments for Business Temporary Closure Grants.

Published 25th January 2021.

East Lothian businesses encouraged to apply for closure grants

As East Lothian, along with the rest of mainland Scotland, moves into Government Protection Level Four from Boxing Day, most businesses except essential retailers will have to close.

Published 23rd December 2020.

Scotland’s Food & Drink County adapts to COVID-19 pandemic

Graeme Ford, Chair of East Lothian Food & Drink, tells us how producers are adapting during the pandemic and encourages us to support our local businesses.

Published 7th October 2020.

Scottish Housing Day - meet our Tenancy Support Officers

Today is Scottish Housing Day and we are celebrating the value of social housing.

Published 16th September 2020.

COVID-19 pandemic impact on East Lothian community

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an ‘unprecedented’ impact on the East Lothian community – but plans for recovery are well underway

Published 25th August 2020.

COVID-19 business stories - Luca's Ice Cream

Continuing our focus on businesses who have been adapting during the COVID-19 crisis, we talk to an East Lothian firm that should need no introduction!

Published 27th July 2020.

More than £17.5 million in grant funding paid out to East Lothian businesses

East Lothian businesses have benefited from more than £17.5 million in funding from the Business Support Grants scheme, established by the Government and administered by East Lothian Council.

Published 27th July 2020.

COVID-19 business stories - Blueberry Gifts

As part of our Stay Safe, Support Local, Love East Lothian campaign, we will be talking to a range of East Lothian businesses who have had to adapt to keep trading during the COVID-19 crisis.

Published 24th July 2020.

Meet Audrey and the shielding outreach teams

Council staff have been working with community groups for months now to support every single person in East Lothian in the shielding group.

Published 16th July 2020.

Work by volunteers in Preston, Seton Gosford is praised by the local community

May was an incredibly busy month for the volunteers in the Preston, Seton Gosford (PSG) area who are helping the local community cope with the COVID-19 crisis.

Published 5th June 2020.

Meet the Fa'side volunteers!

Emergency food deliveries have been provided to hundreds of households in the Fa’side area since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Published 4th June 2020.

Update following First Minister's announcement to reopen schools

Lesley Brown, Chief Operating Officer for Education, has written to update parents and carers following the First Minister’s announcement regarding plans for the phased reopening of schools.

Published 22nd May 2020.

Getting help for someone who’s at risk from harm

The East Lothian and Midlothian Public Protection Committee is urging everyone to look out for vulnerable people who may be at risk from harm, abuse or neglect.

Published 20th May 2020.

Grant funding to help the newly self-employed welcomed

East Lothian Council has welcomed a new government fund to help the newly self-employed who may be experiencing hardship due to the Coronavirus crisis.

Published 30th April 2020.

Support grants for businesses to be extended

East Lothian Council has welcomed an extension of the government support grant scheme for businesses.

Published 22nd April 2020.

New Covid-19 jobs support website

A new Job matching website (c19jobs) has been launched today, supported by Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region deal. The initiative aims to reduce unemployment caused by Covid-19.

Published 3rd April 2020.

Community support is on hand

East Lothian Council is supporting local community resilience arrangements to help vulnerable people living in local communities.

Published 1st April 2020.

Helping children and young people who feel unsafe

While being at home is the safest place for most young people to be at this difficult time, we know this is not necessarily the case for everyone.

Published 30th March 2020.

Council highlights importance of social distancing

East Lothian Council is thanking local residents for playing their part in helping to stop the spread of coronavirus.