LifeCare invites locals to get together with a packed programme this winter
LifeCare Edinburgh is inviting local people to stay connected with a full programme of free and welcoming community activities at its thriving Community Hub in the heart of Stockbridge.
January can feel long and isolating, but LifeCare’s hub offers a warm, friendly space for people of all ages to come together. From relaxed social groups to creative and wellbeing activities, the charity’s timetable is designed to lift spirits and build connections during the winter months.
The popular Chatty Café runs every Monday from 11am–1pm, offering a relaxed space for anyone who fancies a blether and a cuppa. Tables are set aside specifically for people who want to meet others and enjoy friendly conversation. Join us next Mon 19th to help celebrate our Chatty Café’s 2nd birthday complete with a piece of cake!
Families are welcome at the Pop-Up Play Area for Under 5s, available on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9am–2pm, allowing parents and carers to relax in the café while children enjoy safe, fun play.
Creative types can join Craft in the Café on Tuesdays from 12.30–2.30pm. These informal sessions welcome knitters, crocheters and crafters of all abilities, with no need to book.
Wednesday afternoons from 1.45–3pm offer a Games Afternoon, with board games and puzzles including Scrabble, chess, dominoes and cards. The Community Natters discussion group will also be returning soon, with details to be announced.
At weekends, LifeCare’s Saturday Social runs from 12.30–3.30pm offering games, conversation and a hot lunch and drinks.
All these activities are provided for free thanks to our volunteers and funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.
LifeCare also provides a range of free, accessible health and wellbeing activities for unpaid carers, supported by the Short Breaks Fund. Carers are welcome to bring along the person they care for.
More young people will benefit from a project providing a safe space, trusted adults and safeguarding support in Glasgow city centre as a result of Scottish Government funding.
Common Ground is being backed to continue its front line services and ensure more young people can access support when and where they need it most. Since launching as a pilot in March 2025, the project has supported more than 2,000 young people from half (16) of Scotland’s council areas who had come to the city.
The project, which will receive more than £37,000 in 2025-26, offers a safe and welcoming Hub space, support from street‑based youth workers and trained staff and helps to reduce risks facing young people, including homelessness, exploitation, violence, substance misuse and unsafe situations.
Led by Barnardo’s Scotland, working in partnership with the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, Aberlour, Action for Children, Right There, Glasgow Girls Club, One Community Scotland and G20, the project has a reach beyond Glasgow.
Two-thirds of young people accessing the service come from outside the city through encounters with the ‘street guardians’, self-referrals or referrals through police and social work.
Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “Early intervention is key to keeping young people safe and creating safer communities for everyone. Youth workers are often the first trusted adults that young people turn to, and their role in promoting safety and preventing harm cannot be overstated.
“Common Ground is already making a significant difference to the wellbeing of young people in Glasgow and beyond, and our additional funding will strengthen its vital work to reduce exploitation and harm.”
Barnardo’s Scotland Director Martin Crewe said: “It was great to welcome the Minister for Victims and Community Safety to Common Ground recently and share more about how we work with delivery partners and key stakeholders across Glasgow and Scotland to support young people to feel safer in Glasgow City Centre.
“Since March 2025, we have engaged with more than 2,000 young people from around 16 different local authorities on the streets and in our safe space at the Common Ground Hub, meeting needs ranging from travel and friendship issues to more complex safeguarding needs, including homelessness and different forms of exploitation.
“Overwhelmingly, young people have welcomed the support and safety offered by Common Ground as they navigate the often-challenging environment of a busy city centre. The ongoing support and contribution from the Scottish Government – and other funding and delivery partners – allows us to continue providing a much-needed safety net for all our young people as and when they need it.”
Deputy Head of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit Will Linden said: “The SVRU welcomes the Scottish Government’s investment in the Common Ground and Street Guardian initiative.
“Glasgow city centre is a primary destination for Scotland’s youth, and we believe a collaborative approach is the most effective way to keep them free from all forms of harm including violence.
“By providing trusted adults into the city centre the goal is simple: to create a safer environment where young people can enjoy the city’s atmosphere and return home safely at the end of the night.”
Common Ground Glasgow is a project led by Barnardo’s Scotland, working in partnership with Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, Aberlour, Action for Children, Right There, Glasgow Girls Club, One Community Scotland and G20.
The Ripple Project is threatening to take Edinburgh Intergation Joint Board to court over this year’s controversial funding process.
The Restalrig-based community hub believes the EIJB’s consultation process was too short, key information was withheld and responses were not adequately considered.
They maintain the EIJB’s 2025–2028 Strategic Plan was approved after ‘an unfair and unlawful consultation process’.
THE RIPPLE STATEMENT:
“The Ripple Project has formally written with a pre-action letter to the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board to challenge the way its 2025–2028 Strategic Plan was approved. We believe the consultation process was too short, key information was withheld, and responses were not properly considered.
“We have asked the Board to withdraw the decision and re-run a lawful, transparent consultation — and we hope they will do so without the need for court action.”
The EIJB has until 27 August to reply. The Ripple would prefer the EIJB to withdraw their decision and ‘run a fair, lawful consultation without going to court’ – but if the Ripple Project finds the EIJB’s response unsatisfactory, they may then lodge a petition for judicial review at the Court of Session.
The date of the EIJB’s next meeting does not currently appear on the organisation’s website.
THE RIPPLE’s PRE-ACTION LETTER TO THE EIJB IN FULL:
Balerno Village Trust has been awarded £239,005 to acquire a former police station which the group plans to transform into a vibrant community hub that is accessible for all ages and stages of life.
The hub will provide smaller community spaces for hire, after school care, and support for youth activities.
The grant is one of 10 totaling £1,453,569 announced today by the Scottish Land Fund.
The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in April 2021. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.
Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said: “Vibrant community spaces are the lifeblood of our towns and villages- places where people can meet, access services, and simply enjoy being together.
“The latest awards from the Scottish Land Fund will deliver exactly that; welcoming, reliable facilities offering childcare, recreation and wider opportunities for local people. I warmly congratulate each successful project and look forward to seeing the benefits they will bring to their communities in the years ahead.”
Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “The focus of this round of SLF funding has been on providing groups with the funds to secure spaces where they can come together as communities in both rural and urban locations, forging social ties and helping to meet local needs.”
Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at HIE, said:“The successful projects announced today across Scotland are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities.
“Glenelg and Arnisdale Development Trust, for example, will acquire the village shop and store building in the village thanks to an award of £92,239.
“This will secure a vital local service, support economic activity, and maintain a much-valued gathering place for residents and visitors alike.
“All these projects will help retain population, attract visitors and create jobs. Ownership will give community groups greater control over important assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come. We wish all the successful groups the very best in their new ventures.”
Emma Galloway, Balerno Village Trust,said: “We are delighted to receive funding from the Scottish Land Fund that will enable the Trust to purchase Balerno Police Station.
“Occupying a prominent place in the heart of our village, it is a really important and valuable asset to our community.
“We are looking forward to renovating it and creating a vibrant community hub with childcare facilities that will make Balerno an even better place to live, work or visit”
Other groups receiving funding are:
Alloa Community Shed
Award £185,800
Alloa Community Shed will purchase Marshill House in Alloa town centre to provide a space for people to learn and connect, to improve wellbeing and reduce social isolation. The space will offer lessons in DIY and act as a community hub for local people.
Avich & Kilchrenan Community Heritables
Award £45,040
Avich & Kilchrenan Community Heritables will purchase two churches at Dalavich and Kilchrenan, to operate as complimentary community spaces. The two hubs will cater for a variety of existing and new community activity and will also form part of a proposed Christian and clan heritage trail.
Barthol Chapel Community Hub
Award £100,465
Barthol Chapel Community Hub will acquire Barthol Chapel Parish Church in Barthol Chapel, Aberdeenshire. The group will develop the building into a flexible multi-use community hub.
The hub will provide venue hire for community groups, sports activities and life events. In addition, there will be a community café, and the group will host exhibitions and concerts in the space.
Friends of Fearn Abbey
Award £93,600
Friends of Fearn Abbey (FoFA) wish to acquire Fearn Abbey. They intend to reopen it as a space for social gatherings, performance, historical interest, reflection and life events.
Glenelg and Arnisdale Development Trust
Award £92,239
Glenelg and Arnsidale Development Trust (GADT) will acquire a shop with a store building (used for stock) on the main street of Glenelg, Kyle, retaining it for the benefit of the community.
Glenuig Community Inn Ltd
Award £352,800
Glenuig Community Inn Limited will purchase the Glenuig Inn and associated buildings in Glenuig, Lochaber, Highland. GCI have been leasing the inn since March 2025 and will continue to run the inn and develop the site to better meet the needs of the local community.
The group will continue to operate the pub, restaurant and accommodation to create an inclusive community space with events for the community.
Polmont Community Hub
Award £82,001
Polmont Community Hub SCIO (PCH) will purchase Polmont Community Hub and the surrounding greenspace. The group currently operate the space, and acquisition will allow for continued use by local community groups, a playgroup, and a venue for events.
Rousay, Egilsay & Wyre Development Trust
Award £198,658
Rousay, Egilsay & Wyre Development Trust will purchase three parcels of land close to the shoreland on Rousay, Orkney, close to the islands’ only pier.
This will enable the group to create a multi-phased project to deliver facilities for the community, promote tourism, visitor accommodation and a community-led island marina.
Spark
Award £63,961
Spark will acquire the former library premises of Beatlie School Campus, Livingston. The group will continue to deliver a service supporting socially isolated people in Craigshill and South Howden.
In addition, they will create a collaborative third-sector hub where organisations share resources and support joint initiatives.
Community buy-out bid for Oakbank Hotel in Sandbank near Dunoon gets SLF funding boost
Campaigners in Sandbank, Argyll, are celebrating after being awarded a grant to fund a community buy-out of their local pub, the Oakbank Hotel.
The total amount of £147,411 awarded to the Oakbank Community Inn Sandbank (OCIS) group by the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) will finance the purchase of the pub with an additional fundraising campaign through a share scheme to cover the costs of renovation work.
The 150-year-old landmark, located at a gateway to the southern Highlands on the banks of Holy Loch, has been closed for almost two years.
Sue McKillop of OCIS commented: “This has been a challenging 18-month long odyssey. We are all delighted by the outcome and very grateful to SLF for the award and to current owner Greg Devine for his support and patience throughout.
“The SLF award will fund 95% of the asking price as well as provide money for a part-time development worker for a year and essential repair and conveyancing fees. In this current financial climate we are very fortunate to have been successful in being awarded this amount.
“We have had our knockbacks since getting together to try to save the venue and it’s great news for the community of Sandbank that we have our pub back.
“Now the hard work starts! We will be launching a share scheme very shortly. The money that is raised from the sale of shares will be used for the 5% shortfall in the asking price and will allow us to carry out the essential work needed before we open in 2025 as Oakbank Community Inn Sandbank.
“With the land opposite the pub recently purchased by Scenic Sandbank to create a community garden, we will have the ability to reduce ‘food miles’ into food metres through the supply of locally grown produce.
“We have lost so many fantastic venues in this area in recent years. Hopefully our success will encourage and inspire other communities to pull together and save their local hostelries and other assets.
“The Oakbank Inn is more than a pub, it’s a community hub,” added Sue.
The SLF is a funding programme delivered by the National Lottery Community Fund that supports urban and rural communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of land and land assets.
Gracemount Mansion Development Trust has been given £167,340 to buy Gracemount Mansion in the south of Edinburgh in order to redevelop and reopen the asset as a community hub.
The grant is amongst 11 totalling £1,833,622 that have been given to communities across the country in the latest round of awards by the Scottish Land Fund.
The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in April 2021. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.
Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said: “Over one million people across Scotland now live in communities where assets have been acquired with funding from the Scottish Land Fund. This is a remarkable milestone and displays just how large an impact the Fund has had on communities across Scotland.
“Community ownership is an effective way to revitalise local areas and improve the lives of residents . The latest recipients are no exception and I know that their projects will bring countless benefits to their communities.
“I’d like to congratulate the groups involved and I look forward to seeing their projects, and their communities flourish as a result.”
Lindsay Aitken, Chair, Gracemount Mansion Development Trust,said: “We are delighted to have been awarded funding from the Scottish Land Fund. The funds awarded will enable GMDT to purchase Gracemount House and surrounding grounds from the City of Edinburgh Council, as well as a significant contribution towards the essential works required to partially reopen Gracemount Mansion as a community hub in 2025.
“With further funding, the full reopening of Gracemount House will bring back a much needed and desired facility and resource for the community and beyond.
“We must say a huge thanks to the Project team who have progressed the project, GMDT charity Trustees and Members, Friends of the Mansion, the local community, stakeholders, CEC, and of course to the SLF and National Lottery for the funding.”
Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “Like all the groups that have been successful in this round of funding, Gracemount Mansion Development Trust will use their awards to make purchases that will directly improve the lives of people in their community.
“Targeted funding such as this gets right to the heart of local issues.”
And Sandra Holmes, Head of Community Assets at HIE, said: “The successful projects announced today across Scotland are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities.
“Through the purchase of land and properties including a community hall and a former church, groups will be in a position to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits to the community. These latest awards will further strengthen the sense of community and empowerment.”
“All these projects announced today will help retain the population, attract visitors and create jobs. Ownership will give the community groups greater control over important assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come. We wish all the successful groups the very best in their new ventures.”
Other groups receiving funding are:
Wigtown and Bladnoch Community Initiative
Award – £88,474
Wigtown and Bladnoch Community Initiative (WBCI) will acquire a former Church Hall in Wigtown. The acquisition will bring social benefits by providing space for meetings, classes and skill sharing workshops, as well as exercise, entertainment, and health & wellbeing activities. Alongside the social benefits, opportunities for digital access will also enable employment and enterprise skills.
Tighnabruaich District Development Trust
Award – £61,443
Tighnabruaich District Development Trust (TDDT) will purchase 2 retail units in Tighnabruaich, Argyll and Bute. The group will continue to use one of the units as the location for their heritage centre and will rent out the second unit.
Cockenzie House and Garden
Award – £227,400
Cockenzie House and Gardens will acquire the Cockenzie & Port Seton Old Parish Church and Hall, in East Lothian, and will use the asset as a community hub, offering community space for groups to meet, social activities, pop-up hospitality and childcare provision.
Dunvegan Community Trust SCIO
Award – £361,096
Dunvegan Development Trust will acquire a building known locally as the ‘Gaeltec Building’ in Dunvegan, Syke from a private business. The group will develop the asset into an energy efficient, multi-use commercial and community hub that includes office space, a gym and childcare facilities to address a range of community needs in a remote, rural community.
Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust
Award – £267,948
Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust will purchase the Taversoe Hotel on Rousay, Orkney. The hotel is the only current hospitality venue on all three islands. The group will operate the asset as a hotel, pub,
restaurant and community space. This asset will serve as a year-round gathering place for the community that will assist in combating rural isolation.
Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust
Award – £262,188
Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust will purchase a Manse in Rousay,Orkney from the Church of Scotland. They group will convert and renovate the asset into up to 3 separate housing units that will be used for affordable rent.
Toryglen Community Hall
Award – £171,272
Toryglen Community Hall (TCH) will acquire the building in Glasgow that they’ve occupied for 35 years. Community ownership will provide security enabling TCH to improve and extend the building thus, continuing to provide activities aimed at a range of groups.
Bailliefields Community Hub SCIO
Award – £27,500
Bailliefields Community Hub will purchase a small area of land adjacent to the boundary of their existing Community Hub. Acquisition will allow the group to extend existing walking/cycling routes and increase local walking access with a focus on active travel.
Raasay Development Trust
Award – £99,961
Raasay Development Trust will acquire an empty 2-bedroom house in Inverarish on the Isle of Raasay. The group will renovate the house to create affordable rented accommodation for the community.
North Yell Development Council
Award – £99,000
North Yell Development Council will acquire the units 3-4 at Sellafirth Business Park, North Yell, Shetland. The group will use the premises to provide a multi-use office, heritage, events and training space which will be used by local agencies, individuals and community groups.
The Action Group have taken ownership of The Prentice Centre from the West Granton Community Trust (WGCT), following a Community Asset Transfer after the WGCT announced their closure in June 2022.
With almost 50 years supporting people across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Falkirk with disabilities, and their families and carers, The Action Group have a many of long standing connections with people across North Edinburgh, and have been based in Leith since 1976.
Stephen Oliver, Chair of the Board for The Action Group, said: “This is an exciting change for us as an organisation, and we hope to develop an inclusive community hub, for those we support, and our staff, now and in the future.
“We are looking forward to a positive future at The Prentice Centre, and are privileged to be able to build on the connections and partnerships, forged by WGCT over many years. We are so grateful to their members, staff and Management committee for working with us so positively on this transfer. We are proud to go forward with their blessing.”
Community Hub Manager for the Prentice Centre, Moira Fenning, said: “It was an extremely difficult decision taken by the West Granton Community Trust, to wind down the charity after serving the local community for 30 years.
“However, the transition of finding new owners for the building, was made much easier by seeing the amazing work carried out by the Action Group, and the exciting future plans they have for the Prentice Centre.
“We would like to take this opportunity to wish them every success in their future work within the community.”
Lisa Williamson, Development Manager for The Action Group, said: ‘The possibilities and opportunities that this move will give us are very exciting.
“We are looking forward to forming new partnerships within the local community, and working on collaborative projects with organisations both locally and across the city, to provide services and spaces for people with additional support needs, their families, and carers.”
The Action Group intend to have the centre up and running within a few months and will initially retain the name The Prentice Centre.
CEO of The Action Group, Linda Tuthill, said: “The Prentice Centre was named after Walter Prentice, a longstanding local activist.
“It was an easy decision for us to choose to continue his legacy for the time being and retain his name on the building, together with our own name: The Action Group @ The Prentice Centre.”
The Action Group ownership was finalised on February 6th.
Two richly-deserving community-based causes in the west of Scotland are among the latest recipients from the pioneering Community Champions programme, run by leading housebuilder Persimmon Homes. Each has been awarded £1,000 by the company’s Glasgow-based West Scotland division.
Amputee Football Association Scotland was set up in 2017 to provide opportunities for amputees in Scotland to play football. Based in Glasgow but catering for players from all across Scotland, it aims to give players with congenital limb differences the chance to play at grassroots, club and international level.
Spokesperson Ashley Reid said: “We are now resuming competitive games in the post-pandemic environment. Our national team now has overseas commitments and to fulfil these we desperately need help towards travel costs and to acquire new reinforced crutches for all amputee players.
“In addition, we are busy developing training sessions and events for young people, so they can pursue their passion in a fun and friendly environment. We work hard to raise funds to support these developments but have a shortfall. That’s why we turned to Persimmon for some help.”
Around 12 miles away, Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels (OKFP) is the name of an emergency foodbank and community hub based on Station Road, Old Kilpatrick.
Set up in the wake of the pandemic, the group relies on the support of a dedicated band of volunteers, who are trained on life skills such as cooking, housekeeping, budgeting and counselling.
Founder Maureen Cummings explains: “Our training enables the volunteers to help vulnerable families in our community who are experiencing social exclusion as a result of being isolated for long periods of time. This has been a particular issue during the pandemic.
“Many of the individuals and families we work with have lost their confidence in social settings. That’s why we are so committed to helping rebuild their self-esteem and wellbeing, by teaching them new skills and offering training opportunities.”
On behalf of Persimmon, West Scotland managing director Chris Logan said: “Our region has been hit hard in recent years, through the pandemic and, more recently, the cost-of-living crisis.
“This creates very real difficulties for all but especially for those facing challenges, be it physical impairment or less visible issues, such as social exclusion.
“Our Community Champions programme is designed to offer much-needed support for those groups and the selfless people who work hard to create opportunities and help their communities thrive. That’s why we are so pleased to announce this funding for OKFP and the Amputee FA Scotland. We wish them all every success in the future.”
To find out more about the Community Champions scheme, including details of how to apply, visit:
Founded in 1972, Persimmon Homes is one of the UK’s leading housebuilders. With headquarters in York, the Group operates from 31 regional offices throughout the UK, trading under the brand names of Persimmon Homes, Charles Church and Westbury Partnerships, building quality homes across England, Wales and Scotland.
The company is proud to be an accredited Living Wage Foundation employer and directly employs more than 5,000 people and supports around 86,000 jobs in the construction sector.
Port Bannatyne residents will launch a community share offer next week, in what will be the last piece of the jigsaw that allows the village to complete the purchase of the Anchor Tavern and the former off-licence at 34 Marine Road which will become a flexible community hub space.
An information drop-in was held in the Port Hall last night.
Residents and supporters will be invited to buy shares in Port Bannatyne Development Trust, the Community Benefit Society (CBS) that will own the Anchor.
The Scottish Land Fund announced last month that they would provide the funds to purchase the building, subject to a successful community share offer to raise funds to cover renovations and working capital.
The shareholders will then control the CBS, on a one member one vote basis. The CBS’s rules have been designed to comply with Scottish Land Fund requirements, which include a majority of shareholders being resident in the village and a £25 minimum shareholding.
The majority of the funds raised will be spent on refurbishment. In particular the parts of the building which customers don’t normally see are in urgent need of attention, with vegetation now growing inside the building. The share offer aims to raise between £50K and £105K, with the extent of the renovations carried out dependent on the total raised, and priorities to be decided by the new CBS.
Jon Sear, Vice-chair of Port Bannatyne Development Trust said “We know £105,000 is a lot of money to try to raise for a small village like Port Bannatyne, but we are encouraged by the success of other communities, in particular Knoydart, whose pub Share Offer just raised twice this amount and had to be closed early, despite their smaller population.
“Our biggest challenge is that we can’t accept more shareholders from outside the Port Bannatyne area than live locally, so unless the number of applications from Port residents exceeds our expectations, we have no choice but to prioritise higher value applications from non-residents”.
After shares have been allocated to village residents, the Trust has committed to prioritising applications for £200 or more of shares from other island residents and second home owners, and applications for £1000 or more of shares from supporters wherever they are.
The society aims to pay investors 2% interest after year three and is applying to register for HMRC’s Social Investment Tax Relief scheme which offers attractive tax incentives for larger investors.
