Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson performed the official opening of Citizens Advice Edinburgh’s new North Edinburgh Community Resource Centre on Pennywell Road this morning. The Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development will be joined by local Edinburgh West MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton.
The service is a collaborative partnership between Citizens Advice Edinburgh, Community Renewal and Ferrywell Youth Project. Together, the three organisations ‘aim to provide a one stop shop to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community.’
Speaking before the opening, Ben Macpherson said: “Citizens Advice Edinburgh provide vital services for the city, helping people to deal with issues of poverty and upholding human rights. As a volunteer-led service and local charity, Citizen Advice pull together the collective resources of the city to address inequality and disadvantage.
“The opening of the North Edinburgh Community Resource Centre symbolises their commitment to utilising the resources of every local community and, working at a grass roots level, to empower people and communities to realise their potential.
“This collaborative approach of three local charities working in partnership to share their collective resources and expertise accords with the Scottish Government’s vision for service-led design.”
Citizens Advice Edinburgh CEO Benjamin Napier said: “I am delighted to see the official opening of this new service, which comes after months of community consultation and negotiation with a number of partners.
“We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in helping to make this a reality and pay particular thanks to our funders and our 270 volunteers, without whom we could not provide what is often a lifeline support for people.
“We rely on community volunteers to help deliver our services and see this as the best way to help engage and support the local community. We hope that local people will see the North Edinburgh Resource Centre not only as a place to get help and support, but also as a place where they can give something back to their local community and help others in need.
“Citizens Advice Edinburgh, Community Renewal and Ferrywell Youth Project provide training and support for people in a variety of volunteering roles that will help people connect with others in their local community and develop their knowledge, skills and confidence”.
The new centre opens on Monday.
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