We are hosting a tech donation box from The Edinburgh Remakery here at Stockbridge Library until October.
Donate your old unwanted tech to help fight digital exclusion and e Waste. All donations are securely wiped, repaired and reused when possible or responsibly recycled when necessary.
**A little warning : items must be able to fit into the donation slot on the box!**
As Glenogle Swim Centre in Stockbridge prepares to mark its 125th anniversary, Edinburgh Leisure is inviting the local community to help shape a unique legacy – a time capsule to be planted in the centre’s lovingly restored garden during a celebration event on Friday, 5th September 2025.
One of Edinburgh Leisure’s five cherished Victorian pools, Glenogle – affectionately known as Glennies – has been a cornerstone of the community since it opened on 7 September 1900.
Now, as it celebrates over a century of service, the centre is calling on locals to suggest or donate items for inclusion in the time capsule, which will be buried in the private garden at the Saxe-Coburg entrance.
Sam Machin, former leisure attendant and now owner of the popular Glenogle Café on the mezzanine level, said: “Glenogle is a unique venue at the heart of its community. We’d love for our customers and neighbours to contribute ideas or items that reflect life in 2025 or even their memories of Glennies.
“The time capsule will be a gift to the future – capturing the spirit of today for generations to come.”
The garden where the capsule will be planted is itself a symbol of community care and creativity. Over the past decade, Glenogle customers Marjorie Mantle and Andrew Dixon have transformed the once-neglected plot into a vibrant green space. Nestled through the arch at the Saxe-Coburg entrance, the garden sits on the site of an unfinished Georgian terrace, with a stairway leading down to the pool level.
Marjorie met Andrew and his wife through a regular morning gym class and started to share a nearby allotment plot. The two of them approached the then-manager Wendy Avinou in 2015 with a proposal to revitalise the Glenogle space. Together they improved the soil and planted a variety of flowers and foliage.
“It’s been a labour of love,” said Marjorie. “Seeing the garden flourish and hearing kind words from customers makes it all worthwhile.”
Glenogle’s story is also one of resilience. In the late 2000s, the centre faced the threat of closure. A passionate community campaign – Save Glenogle – led by Marjorie and supported by nearly 10,000 signatures, helped secure a £5.7 million refurbishment. The baths reopened in 2010, blending their original Victorian charm with modern facilities.
Designed by Edinburgh architect Robert Morham under the Public Baths and Wash-houses Act of 1846, Glenogle was originally built to improve public health. As indoor plumbing became more common, the baths evolved into a hub for swimming and fitness, serving generations of local residents and clubs.
Now, as Glenogle looks to the future, the time capsule and garden stand as living tributes to the community’s enduring connection to this historic venue.
Anyone with ideas or contributions for the time capsule is encouraged to contact Glenogle Café owner, Sam Machin at: sammachin@edinburghleisure.co.uk or drop into the café by 26th August.
Following a sell-out success in March, local charity LifeCare Edinburgh is delighted to announce the return of its popular Afternoon Tea at the LifeCare Hub on Cheyne Street on Thursday 4th September.
Guests can look forward to a delicious spread of homemade cakes, savoury treats, and endless cups of tea and coffee, all served in the heart of one of Edinburgh’s most loved community spaces. It’s the perfect chance to enjoy a relaxed afternoon with friends, family, or neighbours – all while supporting a fantastic local cause.
But this event is more than just tea and treats – every ticket sold will directly support LifeCare’s urgent fundraising appeal to keep the Hub running. With rapidly rising costs, the charity is calling on the community to help protect the services so many people rely on.
Sarah Van Putten, CEO of LifeCare said: “The LifeCare Hub is a lifeline for thousands across the city. Whether it’s classes for isolated older adults, support for unpaid carers, or just a welcoming place to connect, the Hub brings people together.
“This Afternoon Tea is a chance to enjoy a lovely afternoon whilst helping us secure the Hub’s future.”
The Hub, which first opened in 1975 as ‘Stockbridge House’, now welcomes over 47,000 visits a year, offering 80+ weekly activities for all ages. As a charity, LifeCare works hard to ensure that its services are affordable or free, so no one is left out.
Come and experience the magic of the Fringe at The Yard Edinburgh, this Saturday 26th July. There will be bubbles, magic, juggling, music and much more from our Fringe performers!
No need to book – all Yard members are welcome! Just come along to our regular drop in sessions to get involved.
SCRAN ACADEMY and THE YARD to receive a share of over £1m to help put a stop to child poverty in Scotland
Three Edinburgh children’s charities have been named among 11 Scottish organisations as partners of STV Children’s Appeal’s new Ignite Fund.
Each charity will receive a share of £1 million this year through the funding programme created to deliver ongoing financial and non-financial support to children, young people and family charities in Scotland.
Since its inception in 2011, STV Children’s Appeal has invested in long-term projects with charitable organisations. The Ignite Fund, a key part of the Appeal, will continue to provide sustained, multi-year financial and development aid to charities across the country to help break the cycle of child poverty in Scotland.
The Edinburgh charities which will receive funding are:
Scran Academy which is a catering social enterprise empowering young people to realise their full potential through transformational education and employability programmes;
based in Edinburgh and operating Scotland wide is Place2Be & Youth Scotland which equips youth workers and Peer Leaders with the tools to provide vital support for young people’s mental health and wellbeing, and
The Yard which has a play and family support centre for disabled children in Edinburgh as well as other cities across Scotland.
These charities were chosen for their commitment to offering tangible, scalable solutions which tackle the root causes of poverty – an ethos shared by the Ignite Fund.
The STV Children’s Appeal will work closely with Ignite partners to identify goals, needs, and opportunities for growth, aiming to drive both immediate improvements and lasting systemic change.
The initiative will include the launch of the Ignite Academy which will offer charity partners access to STV’s in-house expertise (such as marketing, communications, and creative), while fostering a peer network for knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
Natalie Wright, Head of STV Children’s Appeal, said: “At STV Children’s Appeal, we have always focused on ensuring the funding we give is well thought through and with a purpose, which is exactly what we are doing with The Ignite Fund.
“Our experience shows that a sustained approach to our partnerships gives real results which make an immediate and lasting impact to those who need it most.
“We’re excited to welcome Place2Be back to continue our successful partnership, and to have The Yard and Scran Academy on board for the beginning of a fruitful relationship which will change lives.”
Scran Academyis in its first year of partnership with STV Children’s Appeal and provides meaningful youth-led education, employment and skills-building programmes through innovative catering social enterprises, helping young people realise their full potential.
The STV Children’s Appeal’s Ignite Fund will allow Scran Academy to reach younger age groups earlier, generate systemic change, and build capacity by opening new youth-led cafes, including one in the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, opening this summer.
Scran Academy Founder and Chair, John Loughton said: “This is the largest single investment in Scran, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. This funding will create hundreds of new employment and training opportunities for young people across Lothian.
“Our team will keep driving lifechanging impact across education, enterprise and community development, led by the communities we serve. As Founder, I know at Scran we trust and believe that folk facing poverty are the solutions to their own lives – we see what they can do, not what they don’t have.
“Thank you to the STV Children’s Appeal, one of Scotland’s most forward-looking funders. We’re ready to get to work and quite literally, Cater for the Future.”
The Yard, which has a play and family support centre in Edinburgh, is dedicated to improving the lives of disabled children, young people, and their families across Scotland. Their mission is to create thriving, supportive communities that enhance the well-being of families facing the challenges of disability.
The organisation will be supported by the Ignite Fund for the first time as it sets out on its five-year strategy to expand its impact, improve inclusion, and ensure sustainable growth.
Celine Sinclair, CEO at the Yard, said: “The Ignite Fund partnership couldn’t have come at a better time for us at The Yard.
“Our Edinburgh based play and education centre is a thriving community space which makes a huge difference to the families we work with, and this new funding and support will help us grow and develop our team which will ultimately let us continue expanding across Scotland and helping more families than ever.”
Place2Be, a children’s mental health charity providing counselling and support to UK schools. In partnership with Youth Scotland, the national charity for community-based youth work development, they are setting out to equip community-based youth workers with the essential knowledge and understanding of young people’s mental health, and the skills and confidence to better support their emotional needs.
Michele Meehan, Head of Youth Work Programmes at Youth Scotland said: “The Ignite fund has allowed Place2Be and Youth Scotland to work together to create a suite of programmes and resources for youth workers in the community which are needed to support young people with the issues they currently face.”
THREE days free story telling and art workshop for 9 to 12 year olds to learn more about climate change with Joana.
This is a great opportunity to learn new illustration and story-making skills using a variety of techniques from an industry professional and have the opportunity to have their art exhibited and a chance to learn more about some of the science behind eco-anxiety!
By producing their own illustration and story, children will get chance to be part of the Scottish international storytelling Festival!!
At Stockbridge Library on Thursday 10th, 17th and 24th July from 10.30 to 1 pm.
Everyone is invited to LifeCare’s free Summer BBQ tomorrow – Friday 20th June, from 12 noon to 4pm at theLifeCare Hub, 2 Cheyne Street, Stockbridge.
Come along for a fantastic afternoon of free food, a bouncy castle, delicious cakes (thanks to Soderberg!) and a wide range of fun activities for all ages.
This special event is part of the Love the LifeCare Hub campaign, celebrating 50 years of LifeCare supporting local people – from young children to older adults – through affordable, accessible community services. The hub welcomes over 47,000 visits each year and runs more than 80 weekly classes and activities. It’s a place where people connect, share, and thrive.
As LifeCare faces rising running costs, donations are being welcomed to help safeguard this much-loved community space. Every pound helps ensure LifeCare can continue to offer vital support and joyful connections for generations to come.
So bring your friends, family, and neighbours for an afternoon of summer celebration – and help support one of Edinburgh’s most cherished community hubs.
Family Fringe Day at The Yard
