A CALTON based drama group has been awarded almost £9,000 from the National Lottery Community fund to support its work with local people affected by Covid-19.

Nae Drama, which operates in the G40 postcode, will use the grant to do performances which explore various ways the virus has impacted on our lives.

The group has been running over six years and has over 14 volunteers. Local people write scripts and act sketches that raise relevant issues to them. This allows their communities to have a voice in how they express their concerns and cope with and manage difficult circumstances.

Nae Drama said they will be able to honour a member of the group, John O’Connor, who unfortunately succumbed to the Coronavirus in May through this work.

Chris Baird, the convenor of the group said: “Drama is a powerful medium to get across key points on a whole range of subjects. Many of our volunteers have found this drama group to be the catalyst to empowering them and building their capacity to contribute and participate in their local communities.

“In the group people become socially connected, feel more confident, gain peer support and have fun whilst doing something that is appreciated by their local communities.”

The group rehearse weekly and will be scheduling 20 performances over the coming six months.