For over 2 years now, LifeCare have been proud to host a The Chatty Cafe Scheme UK table in our community café. Due to such high demand for our Monday sessions, we are excited to be launching a new day of Chatty Cafe starting next week on Wednesdays!
Everyone is welcome to join us on Wednesday 9th of September 10am – 11.30am for our official opening party! Enjoy tea, coffee and cake and good company, all completely free
Every Monday 11am – 1pm
Every Wednesday 10am – 11.30am
At the LifeCare hub, 2 Cheyne St, Stockbridge
Stay for as long as you like – it can be 5 minutes or an hour or so – the choice is always yours.
Families with young children are invited to join local charity LifeCare for relaxed, fun and free intergenerational activities, bringing little ones together with some of the older people who attend one of LifeCare’s day clubs.
Led by local storyteller Claire Mulholland, the sessions will be packed with stories, singing, music, and games – it’s all about giving children and older people the chance to spend time together, play, laugh and share experiences.
Suitable for children aged 1–5, parents and carers are asked to stay for each session.
When: Every Monday 11-12 noon, from 17 August to 14 September
Where: LifeCare Hub and Café, 2 Cheyne Street, Stockbridge, EH4 1JB. The LifeCare Hub and Café is very family-friendly, with plenty of space for prams and buggies. It’s a perfect spot for coffee or lunch before or afterwards, making it easy for families to come along and join in.
As part of the Royal Literary Fund’s Reading Round programme, taking place in 12 libraries across Scotland to mark National Book Club Day, we’re delighted to welcome award-winning writer, journalist and critic Chitra Ramaswamy to Stockbridge Library.
Friday, 11 September
12:30–2:30pm
Stockbridge Library
Chitra is the acclaimed author of “Homelands”, a moving account of her friendship with German Jewish refugee Henry Wuga. The book won the Saltire Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award and was named one of The Guardian’s best memoirs and biographies of 2022.
Her first book, “Expecting: The Inner Life of Pregnancy”, won the Saltire First Book of the Year Award, was shortlisted for the Polari Prize, and was reissued in 2024.
She has also contributed to numerous essay collections, judged literary prizes, and recently published “Rich Things” for the Alasdair Gray Archive.
Alongside her books, Chitra writes as a restaurant critic for The Times Scotland and occasionally The Observer, and as a TV critic for The Guardian.
Reading Round offers a welcoming and inclusive way to experience literature together. The session will begin with a short introduction before Chitra shares a carefully selected prose extract, reading it aloud to the group.
Participants are then invited to discuss what they noticed, what moved or surprised them, what resonated, and what questions the text raised.
After a short refreshment break, Chitra will read a selected poem twice, followed by another relaxed group discussion.
There are no right or wrong answers, no homework, and no expectation to speak if you don’t want to. Whether you’re an avid reader or simply curious, all you need is an interest in reading and a willingness to explore literature in a friendly, supportive environment.
We hope you’ll join us for this unique opportunity to read, reflect and connect through the shared enjoyment of literature.
A new £15 million fund has been launched to improve the resilience of communities across Scotland most at risk from flooding.
Funding will be provided to local groups, communities and local authorities to help them improve their flood resilience and preparedness.
The funding will support sustainable drainage, including natural features like green spaces and planting, to reduce flood risk and future proof existing flooding infrastructure. Coastal communities will benefit, with support available for innovative coastal resilience projects to replenish sand dunes and reduce flood risk in towns like Montrose.
Additional support will be available for communities recovering from the impact of recent flooding, while Public Health Scotland will develop a new interactive tool combining flood risk data with population and demographic data to help identify communities and groups most at risk in the future.
A new Flood Advisory Service will support local authorities in delivering major flood protection schemes more efficiently, reducing delays and improving value for public money.
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action Gillian Martin said: “Climate change means, globally, we are facing an increasing flood risk, and Scotland is not immune to that. We are determined to take action now to protect people, homes and livelihoods.
“This £15 million package delivers on our 100 days commitment to invest in flood mitigation and prevention, with support targeted where it is needed most. By working closely with communities, local authorities and expert partners, we are investing in practical measures that will strengthen resilience and adapt to the challenges of the future.
“From community-led projects and nature-based solutions to better data, improved infrastructure and more effective flood protection schemes, this investment complements our wider Flood Resilience Strategy to help build a safer, more resilient Scotland.”
Have you ever wanted to learn the secrets of the forest and brew your very own magical potion?
Join the legendary Befana and her trusty sidekick, Midnight, for an enchanting 60-minute adventure! In this interactive class, your little ones will: • Discover the secret powers of foraged herbs and plants
• Craft and brew their very own magical tea to drink
• Design their very own custom potion recipe page to take home!
Stockbridge Library Mon 3rd August at 3 to 4 pm 7 to 10 year olds
Places are limited. Contact the library to book your free space!
Edinburgh Liberal Democrats have highlighted critical delays to Water of Leith environmental protection measures and are calling for faster action.
Responsing to a Council report on the Water of Leith water quality, local Lib Dems flagged up that a significant amount of planned infrastructure upgrades which are required to screen off sewage and detritus entering the river have been delayed until after 2027.
Over 10 projects will not begin until 2028, including the following Combined Sewage Overflows according to a March update to the High Priority Assets list including around Leith’s Shore, Junction Street, Stockbridge, Bonnington, Dean Village, Murrayfield, and at St Mark’s Park.
Edinburgh Northern MSP and Scottish Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, who recently called for year round monitoring of bathing waters, said: “The scale of the issue of lack of sewage monitoring is huge across Scotland, which is why rivers like the Water of Leith must be met with ambition.
“The Scottish Liberal Democrats will continue pushing for a Clean Water Act which will incentivise faster action to prevent pollution in our rivers and ocean”.
Commenting on the update, Leith Walk Councillor Jack Caldwell said: “This is incredibly disappointing as the Water of Leith was a key part of Scottish Water’s investment plan.
“Our river deserves to be clean for wildlife, plant life, and people alike. The Council must work constructively with national agencies and Scottish Water to accelerate environmental protections for our communities.”
Inverleith Councillor Hal Osler added: “Our natural environment is precious, and it’s up to all of us to look after it. These delays risk undermining progress won by so many residents, volunteers, and environmental campaigners.”
Transport and Environment spokesperson Councillor Kevin Lang got cross-party support in June for Edinburgh Council to write to Scottish Water to get answers on updated timescales.
This is a new activity we are piloting which hopes to connect generations through play, storytelling, singing and company. Here at LifeCare we run our own day club and support older people to remain active and apart of the community.
Even if you can’t make the taster session, please let us know if you would be interested in further dates we are planning!
Thanks to everyone who came along to LifeCare on Sunday to the repair café and thank you to The Repair Café Champions for all their hard work!
It was wonderful to see such a variety of things coming in for repair, and so many successes. We hope everyone left with new skills, knowledge or confidence to try mending before throwing away.
