Stockbridge Primary goes the extra mile for LifeCare

Pupils, families and local businesses come together to support older people and strengthen the local community

LifeCare Edinburgh is delighted to announce that Stockbridge Primary School has raised an incredible £1,016 through a wonderful whole-school fundraising effort, with every pupil getting involved to support the 85-year-old charity’s vital work tackling loneliness and isolation in the local community.

The fundraising event, organised by Stockbridge Primary Parent Council, saw pupils, families, neighbours and friends from the school community take part in mass workouts and a family-friendly guided walk in Stockbridge – along the pathways of the Water of Leith. Funds raised were shared between LifeCare Edinburgh and Stockbridge Primary Parent Council.  

The event also featured a hugely successful raffle, generously supported by dozens of local businesses and Take Hold Church who collectively donated funds and prizes.

LifeCare offers a range of services for local older people including registered day clubs, outreach support, meals on wheels, help at home and dedicated wellbeing support for unpaid carers.

From its thriving Community Hub and Café on Cheyne Street, LifeCare also delivers a year-round programme of free activities and events designed to reduce loneliness and isolation, strengthen community connections and bring people of all ages together.

Community support has never been more important. With a rapidly growing older population, LifeCare has seen demand for its services increase by 32% over the past year and now supports more than 1,140 local older people annually.

The charity is working hard to ensure older people can continue to thrive in their own homes, stay connected to their communities and avoid the loneliness and isolation that too often accompanies later life.

Claire Montgomery, Fundraising and Communications Manager at LifeCare Edinburgh, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone at Stockbridge Primary School, the Parent Council, the pupils, families and everyone who took part in making this such a wonderful community event.

“Raising £1,016 is a fantastic achievement and every pound will make a real difference to the lives of local older people and their unpaid carers.

“It is particularly special because this was a true community effort, bringing together generations of local people to support one another. We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the businesses who donated raffle prizes so generously.

“Their support demonstrates the incredible community spirit that exists here in Stockbridge. At LifeCare, we believe no one should feel alone or isolated, and this support will help us continue providing practical help, companionship and opportunities for people to stay connected within their communities.

For more information about LifeCare Edinburgh’s services and activities, visit:  

www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk.

More Scottish school leavers in positive destinations

Joint highest level since records began

The proportion of young people going into education, training or work nine months after finishing school is the joint highest since records began. Additionally, the level of young people from deprived backgrounds going into positive destinations is the highest it has ever been.

The latest Summary Statistics for Follow-up Leaver Destinations for 2024-25, show 93.5% of young people were in positive destinations including training, education, and employment. This is up from 93.1% the previous year. Alongside 2021-22 figures, this represents the joint-highest level since consistent records began.

The proportion of young people from the most deprived backgrounds in a positive follow-up destination is as high as it has ever been. The gap between those leaving school from the most (20%) and least (20%) deprived areas in accessing a positive follow-up destination was 7.6 percentage points. This is narrower than both last year (8.3 percentage points) and the pre-Covid position in 2018-19 (8.4 percentage points).

The increase in school-leavers in reaching positive destinations over the latest year has been driven by a rise in the proportion in Higher Education (from 38.1% to 40.2%) and Further Education (from 21.9% to 22.1%).

Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “These figures illustrate that Scotland is amongst the best places for people to start their careers and pursue their life’s passion after finishing school.

“It’s fantastic to see record-high levels of young people going onto training, education, and employment when they leave school. This is testament to the hard work of those young people, teachers and staff that support them.

“Our commitment to free university tuition, generous student support and more apprenticeships means that young people, regardless of the path they choose, have a variety of great opportunities available to them.”

2024-25 School leaver follow-up destinations