In our last newsletter, we warned you that we may not be in the building until well into March, but we’re into February now and we’re full of optimism: after all, that’s only a few weeks away!
You may have wondered about the apparent abandonment of the now vacant school and we had hoped to put some publicity up on the railings to bring the local community up to date with what is really happening in case they are not connected digitally or have been confused by erroneous publicity elsewhere.
This, for various reasons has not happened yet, but rest assured we are moving in soon and we’re raring to go and keen to welcome you all inside as soon as we can.
Meanwhile, while we wait for the keys, we’ve had successful site visits to check on what’s been left behind from the school move, our architects are busy on our “meanwhile use” plans and checks have been carried out on the state of the building and a list of necessary repairs and works, has been drawn up.
Now for some updates.
Restoration Forth –
An exhibition is to be held at the John Hope Gateway at the Botanic Gardens February 12 – April 24th. All the community hubs, of which we are one of six, are or will be exhibiting boards promoting what we are each offering.
We are excited to be participating in the project, as it supports each of our three themes, culture and heritage, learning and enterprise and an improvement in wellbeing, linked together by generations working together.
Once we are open, we will be hosting citizen science sessions and exhibitions to raise environmental awareness along the Forth Coastline, including wall hangings, craft creations, pop up banners and printed material plus musical events to compliment the exhibition – something for all ages!
Work on our friendship benches has resumed, with youngsters from the Citadel project beginning work on the decoration next weekend with help from local artist Johnathan Elders.
Watch out for the benches: they might be among the first things we move onto the site!
Our collaboration with the Pilmeny Development Project goes from strength to strength with our Friendship Group increasing in numbers and eliciting some wonderful feedback.
“I have been virtually housebound for the last two years. It is wonderful to get out of the house and just chat to so many people,” says one participant.
If you’d like to get involved, you can email Norma Johnson, our HoNC trustee liaison for this at norma_johnston@hotmail.com.
We wouldn’t have got this far without help and support from the community so do check out our Partners page on the website.
That will give you an idea of all the wonderful partners, individuals and organisations who have generously given their money and their time to support the project as well as acknowledging the many and various grants we have been awarded by different funding bodies.
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