We’re Turning 30 And You’re Invited to Help Us Celebrate!
This year marks 30 years since Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre first opened its doors. Three whole decades of friendship, support, creativity, learning, and connection.
To mark this huge milestone, we’re planning a special birthday celebration. A proper party for all ages, all backgrounds, and everyone in our community. Because that’s what we’re all about.
But we can’t do it alone. We’re asking for your help to raise £2,000 to make the event as inclusive, welcoming, and fun as possible. Your support will help cover:
Entertainment and music
Food and refreshments
Children’s activities
Decor and party supplies
Accessibility arrangements
This isn’t just a party – it’s a celebration of everything we’ve built together over 30 years.
Whether you’ve attended a class, made friends here, or simply believe in the power of community spaces, your donation will help bring joy to many.
Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR) have launched a major public appeal to restore the charity’s century-old Memorial at Eastern Cemetery in Leith – a poignant legacy project ahead of the 80th anniversary of VE Day in 2025.
The campaign, Project Heritage, aims to raise £40,000 to repair and reinstate the historic sandstone and bronze memorial, which honours former residents of Whitefoord House on the Royal Mile, who died between 1917 and 1948.
Opened in 1883 and now operated by Abercorn Funeral Services, Eastern Cemetery is the resting place of men and women with many of those named having served in the First and Second World Wars. A screen wall also bears the names of those from the 1914–18 conflict whose graves remain unmarked.
The launch event was held yesterday (Wednesday 23 April) at the memorial site, with guests including Martin Nadin, CEO of SVR, and Colin Leslie, Head of External Relations, alongside current SVR residents, representatives from the Armed Forces and military historians.
Measuring seven metres wide and nearly two metres tall, the historic memorial features 11 separate bronze panels and five intricate carved motifs. It is currently in a state of disrepair, with a significant forward lean, and requires specialist conservation to prevent further deterioration.
“This is more than a monument,” said Martin Nadin. “It’s a tribute to all those Veterans that spent their final days at Whitefoord House.
“Many served in harrowing circumstances, and this year, as we approach significant national commemorations, we want to ensure their memory and service is honoured by restoring this symbol of remembrance and respect.”
Scottish Veterans Residences is appealing to the public, businesses, Armed Forces organisations and regimental associations to support the fundraising appeal.
As part of broader outreach, SVR is also engaging communities through events including Armed Forces Day, the Royal Highland Show, and the Edinburgh Kiltwalk, as well as through schools and historical groups helping share veterans’ stories.
“We are appealing to people across Scotland to help us restore this memorial to its former glory,” added Colin Leslie. “With your support, we can ensure the names engraved here – and the sacrifices they represent – are remembered not just this Remembrance Day, but for generations to come.”
Scottish Veterans Commissioner Susie Hamilton, who served in the WRNS and the Royal Navy as an officer in the Marine Engineering Branch, offered her full support to the project. She said: “The SVR memorial in Edinburgh’s Eastern Cemetery is a quiet but powerful tribute to those who served in the British Armed Forces, returned from conflict, and later required support to live out their final years with dignity.
“Restoring it is a fitting way to honour their service and ensure their contribution is not forgotten. This is about more than preserving a monument — it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to remember those who served, and a collective act of gratitude from the community that these men served so faithfully.”
Current SVR resident Karl Owers, who served as a soldier with the Royal Scots for five years, said: “This monument recognises the services and sacrifice of men who served in conflicts dating far back as the Boer War and the First World War.
“It means a lot to Veterans currently at Whitefoord House that this history is preserved, and we hope the public can get right behind our campaign.”
Family member Pamela Perry Hardy, who lives in Vancouver, said: “Two years ago, I found out that my great-grandfather Albert Fowler Perry moved into Whitefoord House, Edinburgh, in 1927 and remained there as a resident until his passing nine years later.
“My branch of his family moved to Canada and most of the family did not know that Albert had moved from Hampshire to Scotland. Albert’s military experience included being in the Loyal Lancashire, Royal Lancashire 1st Battalion, RDC and 1st Hampshire. He achieved the rank of Corporal with the Hampshire regiment and served in the Home Guard during the First World War.
“My family was very pleased to learn that Albert lived in such a welcoming and supportive place for military Veterans. Albert Perry is buried at Eastern Cemetery where his name can be found on the memorial wall plaque that is, sadly, starting to fade. I am delighted to learn that a plan has been developed to revitalise this space.”
Restoration work is scheduled to begin in May, with completion and a rededication ceremony planned for September 2025.
Since April last year, our trained Childline counsellors have delivered more than 73,000 counselling sessions with young people who were struggling with their mental and emotional health. And more than 5,000 of these counselling sessions were with children aged 11 or under, an increase of nearly a third when compared to the year before.
However, as a charity that receives 90% of our income from the public, we know this is something we have not achieved alone, and we are hugely grateful for the dedication and commitment of our supporters, which allow us to continue this work.
One way that the public can support us is through the People’s Postcode Lottery, and since 2018, players have provided crucial funding to the sum of almost £6 million to the NSPCC to help the charity keep children safe and well.
The funds have been used to support our vital services across Scotland. This includes our schools service programme, helping primary school children speak out and stay safe from abuse, and our service centre in Govan, Glasgow, providing therapeutic services to families. And, of course, Childline, which provides free and confidential counselling to children and young people in need of support.
Childline is a lifeline for many children and over the past year thousands of young people have needed it more than ever due to the challenges they have faced during the pandemic. Local lockdowns, school closures, isolation and the impact of being separated from family and friends led many children to get in touch with the service over the phone or online.
The money raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery has been invaluable in helping our frontline staff be here for children during their darkest hours.
Moving forward, as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, it remains vital that children and young people know where they can access help and support.
We can only make a difference for children together, and we simply couldn’t continue to run services like Childline without the public’s support.
Entertainment and music
Food and refreshments
Children’s activities
Decor and party supplies
Accessibility arrangements
Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/dnc-30-bday
