We’re celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Edinburgh Local Heritage Network (ELHN).
This network was launched on the May 10, 2023 and was attended by 17 representatives from a variety of local community groups, organisations, and societies.
The ELHN has gone from strength to strength over the past year and now has 30 members who represent local heritage groups and societies from across the city.
This network is specifically for local groups and societies with a focus on the heritage of Edinburgh, with the Lord Provost Robert Aldridge as Honorary President.
The purpose of this network is to develop and maintain partnerships between local heritage groups and with Council services, chiefly Archives, Libraries, and Museums and Galleries. This is to better safeguard, enrich, and promote the city’s heritage together.
Membership of the ELHN is available to heritage groups and organisations based within the city. If you belong to a group that you think might benefit from this network, please contact us at archives@edinburgh.gov.uk
The network meets quarterly and focuses on subjects of interest to local heritage groups. Groups can also raise any specific issues or questions facing them that network members might be able to help with.
Currently, the key focus of the ELHN is the development of a new online membership directory and collaboration on the Edinburgh 900 programme with a focus on supporting local communities to celebrate this anniversary.
The full ELHN online directory can be found on our website.
The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh and ELHN Honorary President, Robert Aldridge said:“I’m delighted that the ELHN has reached this milestone and I’d like to sincerely thank all the members, supporters and colleagues who have worked hard to grow and enhance this network.
“Edinburgh is a city of rich history and stories. We’re committed to sharing these as part of our Edinburgh 900 programme and the ELHN has a key role to play in these celebrations.”
A network to support, develop and promote local heritage groups across the capital city has been launched by their Honorary President, the Lord Provost Robert Aldridge.
The Edinburgh Local Heritage Network (ELHN) launched on Wednesday 10 May with the aim of developing and sustaining relationships between local heritage groups and with Council services – predominately Archives, Libraries, and Museums and Galleries – and encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing.
The launch was attended by 17 representatives from a variety of local community groups, organisations, and societies across the city. The network will meet on a quarterly basis with plans to develop a searchable directory of heritage groups within the city and to collaborate on shared issues and opportunities, as well as events and fundraising.
Membership is only available to heritage groups and organisations based within the city, and not to individuals. If you belong to a group that you think might benefit from this network, please contact us at archives@edinburgh.gov.uk
The ELHN aims to welcome commercial, creative, and national partners in the future, once they are more formally established.
The Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge said: “Edinburgh is a city globally renowned for its heritage, history, and culture and as such I am very pleased that so many local groups around the city are committed to preserving and enhancing this for future generations.
“I was delighted to attend the launch of the Edinburgh Local Heritage Network and to assume the role of Honorary President. I am sure that through collaboration between the Council and local groups we will see many exciting, member led, and locally driven projects come to fruition over the coming months and years.”
The full list of organisations that comprise the ELHN at the time of the launch are:
Old Edinburgh Club
Cramond Heritage Trust
Cramond Association
Juniper Green and Baberton Mains
Portobello Heritage Trust
Victorian Schoolroom, History of Education Centre
Heart of Newhaven Community
Heart of Midlothian Football Club
Colinton Local History Society
Queensferry History Group
Yards Head Leith
Leith Cultural and Heritage Trust
Cockburn Association
Lothian Family History Society
Craigmillar Now
Currie and District Local History Society
Living Memory Association Leith
Wee Museum of Memory
Bridgend Farmhouse
If you would like to join or to volunteer for one of these groups, please email:
We are pleased to report that Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC) has generously agreed to fund a new Community Teaching Kitchen at the Heart from their Community Health & Well-being Fund.
The almost £13,000 will pay for a total revamp of the old VPS kitchen and provide a space where community-minded groups involved with the many aspects of food growing and preparation can come together to share their skills.
This will involve a lot of work, so accept our apologies for any disruption, especially around the cafe area, as it might not be completed until after the summer.
If you tasted the food offered by Mwamba at our two Coorie-In events, then you’ll be pleased to know that they have already signified their interest in using the new kitchen once it’s ready.
In the meantime, if you or your group would like to use the space for the benefit of the community, please get in touch with admin@heartofnewhaven.co.uk
Working with us –
Age Scotland are also getting involved at the Heart. They are providing the funds for a six-month, part-time position (two days a week) for someone to help organise and run sessions at the Heart for local people living with dementia and their carers.
Applications for the position have now closed, but watch this space for more news as the successful applicant is due to start in June.
We also will be welcoming our new building maintenance officer, Ian White who joins us at the start of May to support all the activities in the Heart.
VIP visitors
The Heart has been happy to host VIP visits recently, with two local councillors, Councillor Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, Councillor Stuart Dobbin and MP Deirdre Brock being given tours of the site and an introduction to what’s been going on, bringing them right up to date with both our achievements and our future plans.
We look forward to welcoming them back again in the future.
Our reminiscence volunteers are keeping busy.
Those who undertook reminiscence training are now offering drop-in sessions at the Heart once a month, on Wednesday mornings. (Wed 12 April, Wed 10 May, Wed 14 June, Wed 12 July, all from 10.30 – 11.30 am).
It is completely free, open to everyone and all ages and there is no need to book in advance – just come along to the Heart, take a seat and start chatting!
The aim is to have a different theme each month, with different pictures and objects to get the discussion going. Do spread the word if there is anyone you know who might be interested in coming along – feel free to bring a friend.
Four Pop-up Play Cafes for carers and children aged 0-7, were held at the Heart in March, led by Froebelian Futures (https://www.froebel.ed.ac.uk/) with the support of various local organisations that support Early Years and families, including Homestart and Stepping Stones.
The aim was to gauge community response and around 200 people, adults and children, passed through the doors on each of the four days.
The feedback, which has all been very positive, is currently being evaluated and will inform our next steps. We will let you know!
Moving forward to August, DaddyDayCare will be opening their doors in the Anchor Building as well.
They are now accepting applications for places, so head to their website for all the details – daddydaycareedinburgh.com
Heritage
Meanwhile, HONC has not been neglecting the heritage side of things.
Representatives from the Heart and our partners the Victorian Schoolroom attended a consultation meeting organised by the City’s Museums Services held in the new Victoria Primary School last month.
A small but enthusiastic number of attendees put forward their ideas for working collaboratively and the representatives from the City Council will take away their ideas and work on them.
Similarly, we also attended a preliminary meeting of a new venture called the Edinburgh Local Heritage Network, also being led currently by the City’s Archives, Libraries and Museum Services.
The idea is for different heritage groups around the city to collaborate on exhibitions, events and publicity to make more locals as well as visitors aware of the many and differing heritage strands the area has to offer.
Finally, our Warm & Welcoming mornings (Wednesdays and Saturdays) are becoming popular but we really need more volunteers to help welcome and chat to visitors as well as make them a warming cup of tea or coffee.
If you think you could give a couple of hours a week, particularly on Wednesday mornings, please contact admin@heartofnewhaven.co.uk
Remember to check our website and social media pages regularly for what’s happening around the Heart.
You’ll find the latest courses being run by Ink on Mesh and our bookbinder Cass, as well as the next date for a Leith Folk Club gathering, by clicking What’s On.
By clicking on Culture & Heritage news, you’ll find an appeal for photo identification and a lovely link between the Heart and the Victorian Schoolroom when the great granddaughter of a former pupil came to visit.
P.S. Save the date:
We’ll be hosting a Family Ceilidh on 29th April, so save the date.
More details to follow on the website / social media.
