Are you an unpaid carer looking for community, a new hobby or a moment of respite?
Join us next Monday for a collection of inspiring walks around the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Stockbridge followed by a gentle session of writing, facilitated by Catherine Muir.
These classes are completely free thanks to funding from Shared Care Scotland, short breaks fund.
Meeting places are a mix between LifeCare and The Cottage in the Botanics:
LifeCare Edinburgh has announced the launch of a new weekly watercolour class for unpaid carers in Portobello, offering much-needed opportunities for relaxation, creativity and social connection.
Unpaid carers—those who support family members, friends or neighbours without pay—play a vital role in communities but often face significant challenges, including social isolation, stress, and limited time for themselves. Access to regular short breaks and supportive activities can have a profound impact on their wellbeing.
This new class aims to provide a welcoming and inclusive space where carers can take time out, learn new skills, and connect with others who understand their experiences. No previous art experience is required, and all materials are provided.
Sarah Duckmanton, Community Activities Lead at LifeCare Edinburgh, said: “Caring for someone can be an honour—a deeply meaningful and loving thing to do—but we also understand the toll it can take.
“That’s why we’re here to make sure unpaid carers have the chance to take a meaningful break, so they feel valued, recharged and better equipped to continue in their caring role.
“As part of that commitment, we’re continuing to grow our free support for carers by launching these activities in Portobello for the first time.
“We’ve been delivering day club support for people living with dementia in the area for many years, so it feels like a natural step to expand our carers programme here too. We know there are many carers who need time out, and we’re here to provide that opportunity.
“These groups are about so much more than the activity itself—they create space for people to relax, build connections, and feel supported. We’d encourage carers to get in touch and come along to give it a try.”
The new workshop builds on LifeCare’s wider programme of free health and wellbeing activities for unpaid carers, delivered from its fully accessible hub in Stockbridge. The programme includes a range of physical, creative and social sessions designed to support carers in maintaining their own health while continuing in their caring roles.
The Watercolour Workshop will take place every Monday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at 53 Milton Road East, Edinburgh (EH15 2NL).
The class is free to attend and is open to anyone who provides unpaid care for an adult. Carers are also welcome to attend with the person they care for.
All activities are funded by the Short Breaks Fund.
Call for Volunteer Speakers at LifeCare Community Talks
Local charity, LifeCare is inviting local people to share their knowledge and passions as part of it’s popular free to attend monthly “Talks at LifeCare” programme.
Held on the second Friday of each month in LifeCare’s welcoming hub in Stockbridge, the talks offer a relaxed and friendly space for people to come together and learn something new.
The charity is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to deliver informal talks on a wide range of topics. Previous sessions have included The Water of Leith, Grandparent First Aid, and Fashion Through the Ages.
Full support is provided, making this an ideal opportunity for anyone interested in giving back to their community, sharing knowledge and expertise.
The LifeCare Talks project is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland.
To find out more or express interest, contact Sarah Duckmanton at:
Our Stockbridge shop is in seriouis need of some volunteers to fill a few gaps in their staffing schedule!
Since opening a few years ago, the shop has become a well established part of Stockbridge life, attracting fantastic donations and bargain hunters from all over!
If you’re interested in volunteering with our team, please contact:
A former business executive is swapping spreadsheets for songs to perform for people with dementia at the Edinburgh Fringe in memory of his father.
Johnny Collington, 62, who lives in the capital, first picked up the instrument in a bid to connect with his dad Stan, who had recently been diagnosed with dementia. Stan, originally from Motherwell, passed away in February aged 99.
Johnny is now registered to perform a series of shows at the Fringe in August to raise funds for Alzheimer Scotland.
The married dad-of-two, who was born in Irvine but grew up in Lanarkshire, said: “I had been living and working in London for many years, but I took early retirement and moved back to Scotland, to Edinburgh, about six years ago. My mum Betty had passed away and my dad was in his early 90s and needed more support.
“My dad was diagnosed initially with severe cognitive impairment but his condition progressed quickly to dementia. He moved into a care home and soon could no longer communicate.
“I’d never been much of a musician in the past, but I owned a guitar and knew a few chords. By chance I took the guitar with me to visit dad and tried to play and sing a couple of traditional Scottish songs that I knew he liked.
“Amazingly, as soon as I started playing I could see him connect with me and start singing along. It was remarkable how he suddenly came to life. I realised then that music is a great connector.
“From that point I started seriously teaching myself how to play the guitar and looked for more songs to sing – anything quite traditionally Scottish with a good beat is always a winner.”
Before long, Johnny was asked by the manager of his dad’s care home if he would play for all the residents – many of whom also had dementia. Word soon spread and he now plays at 12 care homes, centres and other venues from Perth to North Lanarkshire and across the east coast, including at Alzheimer Scotland’s outdoor dementia resource centre at Lauriston Castle.
Johnny said: “I get the same reaction from the other people with dementia who I play for as I did from my dad. It’s fantastic how everyone brightens up when they hear the music and join in.
“One chap who was non-verbal and would usually seem quite disconnected, suddenly sat up, took a tambourine and started hitting it in time with the music.
“I’m a bit nervous about the Fringe but also really looking forward to performing and being part of such a world-famous festival. My shows are aimed at people with dementia but also to anyone who enjoys traditional Scottish music. It feels great to be on a new journey now and to be able to give back to the community.
“I want to keep doing what I can to bring music to people living with dementia and to support the amazing work of Alzheimer Scotland for as long as I can.”
Johnny Collington will be performing his show, Singalong for Scotland, at the LifeCare Centre in Cheyne Street, Stockbridge, each day from August 7 to 14, from 3pm to 4pm. Find out more at: www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/sing-a-long-scotland
Find out more about Alzheimer Scotland at www.alzscot.org, or call their 24 hour Freephone Dementia Helpline at 0808 808 3000.
We are excited to invite you along for our annual Summer BBQ! Held at our fully accessible hub at LifeCare 2 Cheyne St in Stockbridge.
Look forward to a bouncy castle, children’s activities, games and of course a proper BBQ all completely free. Everyone welcome! We can’t wait to see you there
Donations are welcome in order to support the work we do as a charity.
Extinction Rebellion Scotland, Christian Climate Action and Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign held a noisy Earth Day protest outside BlackRock offices in Edinburgh yesterday.
BlackRock is the world’s largest investment asset manager using the immense power of its algorithms and wealth to fund three crimes against life and humanity: AI, fossil fuels, war and genocide. The protest demanded that BlackRock stops using its power to crush humanity, and stops funding death by algorithm.
The protest included drummers from the Rhythms of Resistance network and Discobedience dancers.
Three corpses dressed in shrouds labelled with the words: BlackRock Funds Climate Violence, War and Genocide, AI Terror. Protest in Harmony, a radical activist singing group, sung songs of protest and an original work of art was created for the protest.
Activists held a giant banner saying BlackRock CRUSHING EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE and some held placards drawing attention to the fact that BlackRock’s wealth and algorithms fund climate violence, genocide and Big Tech. Larry Finkenstein, the alter ego of BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, also made an appearance.
Alex Cochrane, website manager, from XR Scotland said:“We are protesting on Earth Day because BlackRock is funding climate breakdown with its investments into fossil fuel companies and major polluters.
“They are a company prepared to lie, greenwash and crush us all under the weight of climate catastrophe just so their shares can get some returns.
“They have captured finance and become too big to fail – we will all suffer from this, including the staff of BlackRock. Climate breakdown will destroy our way of life and their way of business.”
A spokesman from Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign said:“BlackRock uses its financial might directly against the Palestinian people.
“As the UN special report on ‘the economy of genocide’ by Albanese details, BlackRock’s vast investments in Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon and others add up to a ‘joint criminal enterprise’ where there is a direct line between BlackRock’s profits and genocide.”
Levi Clark, support worker, from XR Scotland said:“Young families in Scotland like mine are struggling as BlackRock’s AI investment platform Aladdin, the algorithmic engine of the global financial system, drives historically unprecedented inequality.
“There have never been more billionaires, yet ordinary people everywhere are facing hardship. BlackRock funds Palantir which is using AI technology to devastate human rights. We need to wrestle back control of this technology’s future for the benefit of all humanity.”
LifeCare Edinburgh 2 Cheyne street, Stockbridge, EH4 1JB
