Today (22nd October), 587 community groups across Scotland are celebrating a share of £19.3 million from The National Lottery Community Fund. The funding set to power up local projects comes as the National Lottery prepares to celebrate its 30th birthday next month.
Across Edinburgh, 55 groups are picking up grants totalling £1.7 million. Among them are Citadel Youth Centre in Leith (£166,909), CHAI (£73,120) LifeCare in Stockbridge (£40,696) and Granton’s Empty Kitchens Full Hearts (£19,972).
A full list of awards is attached.
From historic walled gardens to derelict playgrounds, some of the successful projects will help people reconnect with nature and each other.
They include Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden who receive £10,000 to host events and gardening sessions at this unique historic site.
Local people have campaigned for eleven years to save the abandoned medieval garden from commercial development. The last vestiges of a once grand estate (the 15th century castle collapsed in 1928), the garden itself had been neglected, for decades.
Like the plot from the beloved children’s novel “The Secret Garden”, Isla Brown led a group of local volunteers, to re-discover and to revive the lost garden of Granton.
“It was thrilling to finally have the keys. When we opened the gate the garden was completely covered with bindweed and brambles. It was so overgrown that it felt like walking into a small woodland, though the old paths remained clear enough to guide us through the wild.”
Isla and her team immediately set about reviving the Garden.
“We’ve planted apple trees as part of our efforts to restore the garden’s fruit-growing heritage. As a botanist, I’ve identified and catalogued the wildflowers that naturally grow here and we make a concerted effort to ensure none are lost as we work to increase biodiversity.
“Bees and butterflies are also thriving in the garden.
“It’s surprising how many people say they never knew the garden was here because it’s so hidden from view. It really is a secret garden. We also harvest produce from the garden and donate it to local organizations like Pilton Community Health Project and Fresh Start, who use the food for community meals.”
The garden may have been lost in the twentieth century but a hundred and sixty years ago, the “lost Garden of Granton” was very much on the map. Isla said.
“We have records of tourists arriving by boat in Granton, staying at a nearby hotel, and visiting the garden. We even have a 17th-century doocot (dovecote) on the site.
“The first gardening manual published in Scotland, The Scots Gardner (1683), includes detailed instructions for setting up a kitchen garden. We’ve tried to follow some of those instructions ourselves, adding a historical twist to our modern gardening efforts.
“Looking to the future, we’d love to plant more native flowers, like snowdrops and primroses, and continue caring for the lovely old roses that date back to the garden’s market garden era. This place has an incredibly rich history, and it’s delightful to see it coming back to life.”
Mental health support charity Growing Matters also acquired a lease on an historic walled garden attached to Gilmerton House, an 18th-century estate in East Lothian.
Today, the charity receives an award of £10,100 to build a pond which they plan to supply with fresh water by restoring a historic well on the site. Once completed the pond will enhance the garden’s biodiversity and host pond dipping sessions for local children.
The once verdant Victorian garden had been left wild and neglected for decades. Once they got the keys in 2016 the group quickly set to work clearing the brambles and bringing the garden back to life.
Gary Biggar, 59, is one of the volunteers helping to regenerate the garden. He said: “The garden has become a safe haven for many in the community.
“Our project offers a tranquil, non-judgmental space where people can reconnect with nature and build mental resilience. After the sessions, we gather for tea and cake and a chat. It’s a chance for people to come together and not feel isolated.”
Gary like many of the volunteers loves learning about the history of the garden: “We discovered an old report from the Caledonian Horticultural Society, dating back to 1885. It detailed an apple and pear congress in Edinburgh where a gardener from Gilmerton presented a new apple variety, named Lady Kinloch, which was met with high praise. This suggests that the garden likely had an orchard in the past.”
With a focus on sustainability the group have added several features to the garden including a herb garden, alongside vegetable plots, a polytunnel, a native tree forest and a bee area with six hives. They have also built an open-fronted craft shelter, where they host workshops in willow weaving and beekeeping.
Commenting on the funding Gary said: “None of this would have been possible without the support of National Lottery funding.
“We celebrated this achievement with our community during our recent open day, marking the occasion with flags and festivities.”
Disability charity, get2gether are another of the lucky groups. They have secured an incredible £195,000 to run social events, exercise classes and workshops for adults with disabilities.
The group works to reduce social isolation and increase the resilience, emotional wellbeing and self-determination of its members.
Natalie aged, 37, regularly attends events hosted by the group. Natalie said: “Before joining get2gether I was stuck in a pretty lonely, confusing and isolated life.
“My life has changed in so many amazing ways since joining. I now have a supportive community around me where I’m seen as a whole person. get2gether gave me a safe space to learn who I am and recognise my worth.
“Since joining get2gether I have gained some huge achievements that I never thought possible for me. I am now doing a college course. I never thought I’d be able to do that. The group has made me realise that I do have a future and a place in the world. I have so many good things to say about get2gether, it’s hard to get it across. It has changed my life.”
Commenting on today’s funding from The National Lottery Community Fund Director of get2gether, Mojca Becaj said: “This funding enables us to continue creating inclusive and accessible social events that foster connections and empower adults with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives.
“Thanks to the Lottery funding, we can further enhance our members confidence and increase community engagement, making a real and lasting impact on our members’ lives.”
The Royal Scots Regimental Trust were also recipients of funding, being awarded £2,982 to create an interactive exhibition in partnership with Hearts Football Club.
The exhibition will explore the local people including Hearts players who were impacted by the First World War. The exhibition will be held at Tynecastle in the European Suite and will support the football club’s 150th celebrations.
Colonel Martin Gibson OBE DL, Lead from The Royal Scots Museum Outreach Team came up with the idea for the project. “I was determined to reach out from our Regimental Museum in Edinburgh Castle to engage with the Edinburgh community, by telling the unique story of The Royal Scots 373 years of service.
“Hosted by Hearts FC as part of the Club’s 150th Celebrations, our interactive exhibition focussed on soldiers stories, many who were from the local area. Visitors of all ages came along and were reminded of the close synergy between the Regiment and Hearts, originating from the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 when Hearts players were the first to be allowed to enlist, and the famous McRae’s Battalion was raised in Edinburgh. The National Lottery funding enabled our dedicated team of volunteers to design and produce real quality displays.”
Retired Regimental Sergeant Major, Gordon Lumsden, 73, from West Lothian contributed to the exhibition.“I shared my military story with the really interested visitors who clearly enjoyed the exhibition experience.
“It was good to bring our story to the heart of where we used to recruit. I met several people from our former recruiting area whose family had served in The Royal Scots.”
Announcing the £19.3 million package of grants, Kate Still, Scotland Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “This November, the National Lottery celebrates its 30th birthday. For three decades, communities have come together, supporting one another and transforming lives through National Lottery funding—a truly inspiring achievement.
“National Lottery players can take pride in knowing that their contributions have helped groups like get2gether and The Royal Scots Regimental Trust to support people to lead more fulfilling and connected lives.”
National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year (2023/24) The National Lottery Community Fund awarded over half a billion pounds (£686.3 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK, supporting over 13,700 projects to turn their great ideas into reality.
To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk
