Fort Kinnaird volunteers deliver garden makeover at Craigmillar community centre

The gardens at Caring in Craigmillar’s community centre have been given a new lease of life thanks to a team of volunteers from Fort Kinnaird.

Caring in Craigmillar offers support services to elderly, disabled and vulnerable members of the local community. Service users are collected from their homes and brought to the care centre where they enjoy tea, lunch and a programme of activities, which often take place in the garden.

Fort Kinnaird Deputy Centre Manager Lindy Watson recently attended a meeting at Caring in Craigmillar and saw the opportunity to transform the garden into a space that was welcoming and inspiring for the centre’s community.

She then invited property and construction consultants from Gleeds and Thomas & Adamson, who work on site at Fort Kinnaird, to join a team of staff from the retail centre to makeover the garden.

Lindy Watson said: We are extremely proud to have worked together to transform the garden at Caring in Craigmillar.

 “The centre does an incredible job of looking after the most vulnerable people in our local community, so donning some gardening gloves and picking up some tools was the least we could do.

“We hope the Caring in Craigmillar community enjoy the new space, and feel inspired and very much at home in the garden.”

The project involved the creation of new landscaped spaces, including the installation of a healing path with rock borders, as well as a general clean-up and planting.

Kellie Mercer, Manager at Caring in Craigmillar said: “Everyone at Caring in Craigmillar would like to thank the volunteers who gave their time effort and put in so much hard work to help us achieve a lovely space for our members.

“It has made a huge difference for our members who now enjoy spending time in the garden.

“Some of our members are no longer able to get outside in their own gardens at home, so with your help we have achieved a fabulous bright and safe space for everyone to enjoy.” 

Fort Kinnaird to go the extra mile for Thistle in Edinburgh Kilt Walk

Staff at Fort Kinnaird are building up their supplies of tartan and plasters ahead of the Kilt Walk next month, where they will be walking in support of Thistle Foundation. The team at Fort Kinnaird, which is Edinburgh’s leading retail and leisure destination by footfall, will join thousands of individuals and organisations across the city in walking the 5, 15.5 or 24-mile journey for The Kilt Walk in Edinburgh on 16 September. Continue reading Fort Kinnaird to go the extra mile for Thistle in Edinburgh Kilt Walk

Fort Kinnaird offers free sanitary products to help tackle period poverty

Edinburgh’s Fort Kinnaird has installed a dispenser offering complimentary sanitary products in an effort to support those experiencing period poverty. Shoppers in need are invited to take a free product from the machine, which is located in the women’s bathroom facilities at the Fort Kinnaird customer service centre. Continue reading Fort Kinnaird offers free sanitary products to help tackle period poverty

Edinburgh residents short-sighted about eye health

National optician Vision Express is urging Edinburgh residents to take better care of their eye health, after a visit to the city revealed:

  • All visitors to the van were overdue an eye test
  • 80% had outdated prescriptions, potentially cause long-term damage to their sight

Continue reading Edinburgh residents short-sighted about eye health

Eye health is no laughing matter as Vision Van comes to Edinburgh

  • Vision Express Vision Van to visit Edinburgh to promote importance of regular eye checks
  • Around 4,000 residents in area living with suspected glaucoma, the silent thief of sight

With the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in full swing, Vision Express is putting eye health centre stage by bringing their Vision Van to the area as part of its Scotland tour, aiming to raise awareness of the importance of regular eye tests. Continue reading Eye health is no laughing matter as Vision Van comes to Edinburgh

Edinburgh shopping centre central to Scottish economy

A report released today by Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh’s leading retail and leisure destination, has highlighted the significance of the centre’s contribution to the Scottish economy. With 14 million visits in 2017, Fort Kinnaird has seen its Recruitment and Skills Centre help 3,200 people into work over the past five years. Continue reading Edinburgh shopping centre central to Scottish economy

Edinburgh shoppers set to spoil their mums on Mother’s Day

Mums in Edinburgh can expect to be treated this Mother’s Day (Sunday 11 March) as new research shows the region will splash out a huge £14.6m on gifts, family meals and days out. A survey of over 2,000 people by British Land, co-owner of Fort Kinnaird, found that people in Edinburgh will spend a whopping £1.6m on greetings cards, £940,000 on pamper products and £765,500 on breakfast in bed. Continue reading Edinburgh shoppers set to spoil their mums on Mother’s Day

Grace’s award-winning sign goes on display at Fort Kinnaird

An East Lothian schoolgirl’s award-winning accessible toilet sign has gone on display on the door of Fort Kinnaird’s disabled toilet and bathroom facilities in a bid to make them more welcoming for people with hidden disabilities or long-term illnesses. Continue reading Grace’s award-winning sign goes on display at Fort Kinnaird