Got something that’s broken? Want to try fixing it but not sure how?
Repair Café is a free community event where you can bring your item and volunteer fixers will guide you through your repair.
Sunday 28th this month, Repair Café Edinburgh will be at the LifeCare community hub at 2 Cheyne Street, Stockbridge.
Repair Café volunteers will be on hand to help you to repair your broken electrical, electronic and mechanical devices such as toys, small / low-voltage electricals, laptops. We’ll have experts who can help you with bicycles, and our fabrics and clothing fixers will be here too.
Our café will be open for breakfast rolls, and refreshments
Want to learn how to fix something? The event is free, but we’re limited by time, spare parts, safety and capacity.
Please book in advance to check suitability and avoid disappointment!
Unfortunately not everything is fixable at our events to avoid disappointment we encourage you to email us at repaircafeedinburgh@gmail.com with your questions and to reserve your place. Or just turn up on the day and we’ll try to take a look.
This Carers Week (9–15 June), Edinburgh charity LifeCare is celebrating the extraordinary contribution of unpaid carers and encouraging more people to access the help available to them.
Every day, thousands of unpaid carers across Edinburgh provide practical, emotional and personal care to family members, friends, neighbours and loved ones. Many do not recognise themselves as carers, yet they play a vital role in helping people remain independent, connected and well within their communities.
LifeCare has been supporting local people for 85 years and, since launching its dedicated carers wellbeing programme in 2022, has welcomed hundreds of unpaid carers through free wellbeing activities, social opportunities and peer support. The charity also provides more than 19,200 hours of respite each year, helping carers take a break from their responsibilities, focus on their own wellbeing and recharge.
As pressure on health and social care services continues, unpaid carers are increasingly carrying greater responsibility for those they care for. LifeCare sees first-hand the impact this can have on carers’ physical health, mental wellbeing and social connections.
Through free activities including exercise, yoga, meditation, creative arts, massage, hairdressing and social gatherings, carers are given the opportunity to do something for themselves while connecting with others who understand the realities of caring.
Recent feedback highlights the difference these activities make. Ninety per cent of carers said the programme gives them something positive to look forward to, 86% said it allows them to do something for themselves, and 81% reported meeting others in similar situations, helping reduce isolation and build lasting friendships.
One unpaid carer said:
“It would not have been possible for me to care without these classes. I have made friends, learned new skills and taken care of myself when I didn’t feel like it.”
Another added:
“Without LifeCare and the classes I would be completely isolated. Most of my friendships have arisen through LifeCare carers classes.”
LifeCare would like to thank the Short Breaks Fund, administered by Shared Care Scotland, whose generous funding has helped make these free health and wellbeing activities possible for local unpaid carers.
To hear directly from a local carer and learn more about the growing importance of unpaid carers, watch LifeCare’s special Carers Week video on social media and discover why these activities have become a lifeline for so many people.
Find Out More
If you regularly help a family member, friend or neighbour because of age, illness, disability, frailty or a long-term condition, you may be an unpaid carer.
To find out more about LifeCare’s free activities and support for unpaid carers, call 0131 343 0940, visit our website or pop into the LifeCare Hub on Cheyne Street, Stockbridge.
Join Spirit Song Choir and Friends for an unforgettable evening of soulful music and uplifting vibes at St Vincent’s Chapel, Stockbridge, on Saturday 27 June, in support of the Hospice.
Featuring the internationally travelled Spiritsong Choir from Canada and the USA, this special concert marks the final night of their very first tour of Scotland. Expect an inspiring celebration of community, friendship, and music.
Join us for a fantastic afternoon of free BBQ food, a bouncy castle, musical entertainment, delicious cakes kindly provided by Soderberg, and a wide range of activities for all ages. There will also be a fun raffle featuring prizes generously donated by Lannan Bakery and itison.
The event comes at a special time for LifeCare as the charity celebrates 85 years of supporting older people across Edinburgh through free and affordable, accessible community services.
Each year, the LifeCare Hub and CafeLife welcomes more than 48,000 visits and hosts over 80 classes and activities every week. It is a place where people come together to connect, share experiences, and thrive.
As LifeCare faces rising operating costs alongside growing demand for its services, donations are warmly welcomed to help secure the charity’s future. Local people are encouraged to join the Friends for Life(Care) programme.
Regular supporters help sustain LifeCare’s vital work while enjoying a range of benefits, including early access to selected events, a complimentary hot drink at CafeLife, an exclusive supporter badge, and the opportunity to have their name added to the Tree of Life(Care) in the hub.
Bring your friends, family, and neighbours along for an afternoon of summer fun and community spirit, while helping to support one of Edinburgh’s most cherished organisations.
LifeCare would like to thank the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland for supporting this free community events.
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:
SAVE THE DATE!
