The popular Pork Butcher’s shop on Pennywell Road reopened for just a week recently – not to sell meat, but as a community drop-in resource. Muirhouse Link Up project worker Julie Crawford explains all:
“The purpose of the week was to do a few things –
Promote Link up project which started in May last year. I work with local people in Muirhouse and West Pilton to identify activities that bring different groups of people together to take part and contribute on an equal footing. The activities could be anything, from people having a cup of tea together to taking part in an activity. We’ve been working with local people to develop a monthly bingo evening, which has seen over 60 people attend the last few months, supporting the Tenants and Residents In Muirhouse Group (TRIM), an Arts and Baking group at North Edinburgh Arts, establishing community cinema and much more.
During the week we had a huge map on the shop wall and local people were invited to write on it and give us views about places that are important to them, what people do in the community and things that they would like to see. Over the course of the week 250 people came through the door, which was fantastic. The highlight was seeing local artists using the space to work with young people doing light photography and some film-making. The shop window will be used by City of Edinburgh Council to advertise 21st Century homes and community activity – I believe there is massive potential to use the space by community organisations.
Link up will continue to work with local people to set up activities which they have skills or interests in, just get in touch! Local people are already running new activities this year, including chess and archery!”
To get in touch with Julie, call 315 6405 or email Julie@mydg.org.uk
You can also check out Muirhouselinkup on Facebook or ‘tweet’ @linkup11
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Fantastic piece of the shop. I have to agree with it 100% –
Link Up maybe relatively new to Muirhouse, but Julie has made a huge difference, I am heavily involved in Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse (TRIM) and we are now being listened to by the council. We are contacted often by media organizations asking for quotes etc and we are making improvements in Muirhouse.
Hopefully Link Up is here to stay and becomes a permanent feature in Muirhouse.