Tag: Heart of Newhaven

New faces and first events at the Heart of Newhaven

Welcome to your September newsletter

NEW FACES and FIRST EVENTS

We’d like to start off by introducing you to our new members of staff. They all started work at the Heart on 2nd September, so you’ll be meeting them soon.

First of all, there’s our new full time Transition Manager, Roger Walpole. Many of you will already know Roger as he used to be a member of the HONC board.

Of course he’s had to step down as a trustee in order to be able to take on the role of an employee, but there’s no doubt he has already contributed so such to the project and is fully committed to its success.


Roger has been working with the Edinburgh University Student Association’s business development department, for the last 13 years, helping run their annual entertainments programme in many guises, but has also found time to be a treasurer and trustee with Victoria Primary School’s council and PTA.

Some of you may also know him as your local Polling Officer.

Next there’s Kimberley Thomson. Kimberley is starting with us as our part-time Heart Coordinator, so she is the face you will be meeting front of house, as she coordinates volunteers and activities.

Kim comes from a customer service background within the charity sector and will be the first point of call for visitors to our centre.

She is very much looking forward to meeting everyone and becoming a part of our community! She will also work with customers booking at our fantastic venue, giving support through the booking journey and building great lasting relationships.

Finally, there’s our Buildings and Maintenance Officer, Becc Dishon who will be taking up the part-time role of Buildings and Maintenance Officer.

Becc tells us: “My career has seen me involved in the management of the technical facilities and spaces in a number of well known Edinburgh venues for over twenty-four years.
 
“As well as working on productions my background includes much time spent in education, helping people young and old to see their creative potential. I enjoy being involved in the facilitation of other people’s creativity and seeing their work come alive. 
 
“I create a lot of art myself and also enjoy writing and studying local history and anything weird. I’m part of a group who own chickens on a residential street and have a very understanding wife.”

Now you’ve met the team, look out for them if you’re attending one of our September events, all of which will take place in the Anchor Building (that’s the new one in the playground):  

A series of workshops delivered by Jamie Dyer, from Art in Healthcare will be running on Tuesday 6th – Drawing and Map Making; Wednesday 7th – Experimental Film and Photography;  Tuesday 13th Community Sculpture; – and Wednesday 14th – Print Making.

The events are free but due to space issues, please register at admin@heartofnewhaven.co.uk if you would like to attend.

Keep an eye on our social media and website for more details to follow of a community event highlighting some of the activities to be on offer this month.

Heart of Newhaven: July Newsletter

Welcome to your July Newsletter

First of all, thank you to the members who attended our first ever, in-person AGM which was held in the Heart itself. We had a good turn-out of both full members and associated members as well as several apologies from those unable to attend.

Three trustees stood down after having given significant service since the time of the original steering committee and having continued with membership of the Board when the SCIO was set up in 2020. Rodney Matthews, Colin MacNeill and Alan Hartley all stepped back from the Board for personal reasons although all remain committed to helping the Heart in other ways in the future.

Two Trustees who had joined the Board since the 2021 AGM, Mike Douglas and Layla Robinson, were re-elected.

Guest speaker for the event was Mr David Knight from the Scottish Land Fund.

He gave an invigorating address about the history of the Land Fund and its investments and announced that the grant awarded to the Heart was the largest single grant for an individual site, with the exception of the large award for the Isle of Ulva which was for a whole estate as opposed to “just” a building.

Although the legal documents have not yet been signed, or the keys handed over, Mr Knight presented outgoing chair Rodney Mathews with a plaque commemorating the SLF’s investment in the Heart, which will be given pride of place once it is legally owned by the community.

The new Board

Immediately following the AGM the new Board held a short meeting, whereby Judy Crabb, who has been involved with the project since even before the creation of the first steering group, was elected as the new Chair.

Emma Hendron, who is a co-opted trustee, was elected Treasurer and Layla Robinson was elected Secretary. All three were elected unanimously.

The new Chair has been instrumental in many ways that members may not have been aware of, being involved in all aspects of the project so far. The current Board acknowledged this with her election and can think of no better person to lead the way forward as we enter this new phase.

All trustees can be contacted directly through their Heart of Newhaven email addresses, which can be found on the website.

The new Board wish to thank all three retiring trustees for the vision and unwavering commitment they shared during their terms in office. Without their contributions the project would not be where it is today. We all owe them a great deal.

Could you fill a space on the Board?

As we move into the next phase of the project, we are looking for a new trustee with legal experience who can assist the Board with contractual, commercial and property legal issues that may arise from time to time.

If you have some experience in this field and would like to get involved, please contact judy.crabb@heartofnewhaven.co.uk

And finally:

Remember to check the website and social media regularly for updates, news and blogs. June saw the posting of the delightful reminiscences of 95 year old Margaret Mclean who was born, grew up and still lives in Newhaven.

You can find the blogs under BLOGS on the website.

Join The Picnic in Victoria Park

The Heart of Newhaven Community, Friends of Victoria Park and The VP Allotment Holders invite you to The Picnic in the Park, at Victoria Park on Sunday 19 June from 12.30pm-3.30pm.

Bring a picnic and enjoy meeting your neighbours in the park

  • Children’s Races (including the world-famous 3-legged!) Fun Dog Parade
  • Plant Swap Table
  • Kids’ Books Swap Table
  • Live Music
  • Optional Fancy Dress for People and Pets!
  • Prizes for taking part for Children and Dogs!

Check the ‘Friends of Victoria Park’ and ‘Heart of Newhaven’ Facebook pages for updates

https://www.facebook.com/fovpedinburgh 

and 

https://www.facebook.com/TheHeartofNewhaven)

Inspired by the Eden Project’s Big Lunch

News from Heart of Newhaven

MAY NEWSLETTER

First of all, a big thank you to everyone who contributed to our recent Crowdfunder campaign.

This is to be put towards the costs of sprucing up the building once we get the keys. Lots of volunteers are of course already hard at work getting ready for the big day, making inventories and moving furniture, all essential logistical work.

Soon, it really will be “all hands on deck” as we start with the paintbrushes and the trowels and we’ll be calling on even more help on the ground then.

Meanwhile, if you haven’t already given, the Crowdfunder is still open for donations.

Did you know however that you can gift to our charity at any time you like, or even on a regular basis?

All you have to do is go to our website and follow the links.

You can donate online directly to our bank or you can send a cheque if you prefer.

All the details are on the website here 

Now that the weather is improving, remember our big Picnic in the Park, to be held in Victoria Park on Sunday 19th June, between 12.30 and 3.30pm. 

Inspired by the Eden Project’s Big Lunch, this is being held in collaboration with the Friends of Victoria Park and the Victoria Park Allotment Holders. Bring a picnic and enjoy meeting your neighbours. Take part in the fun races and games or take advantage of the plants and books swap tables. There will even be an (optional) fancy dress competition for children and pets – with prizes!

New initiatives

Thanks to successful applications to the Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund 2022, The Arnold Clark Community Fund and the People’s Postcode Trust, we have successfully achieved funding to help connect and bring people together. This is the aim of the following two new projects.

Reminiscence training

We know that sharing stories and memories is valuable in preserving not just family history but social history and brings people of different generations together through understanding and sharing. It’s also enjoyable and rewarding.

If you’re interested in reminiscence and recording people’s stories and memories, then we have funding for training in reminiscence work which will be led by the Living Memory Association. 

Do get in touch with: judy.crabb@heartofnewhaven.co.uk or christine.mcderment@heartofnewhaven.co.uk  if you would like to take part.

Pots of kindness

The second project is an expansion of our earlier Pots of Kindness. That project was so well received that we are going to run another.

This time, as well as primary school children, we are inviting young people of 16+ to get involved.

We will supply the seeds, pots and compost. All you do is plant the seeds and write a short letter to an elderly recipient. We’ll deliver the planted pots with their accompanying letters to the elderly or isolated within the community.

It’s a wonderful way to bring the generations together.

Get in touch with judy.crabb@heartofnewhaven.co.uk if you know a young person who would like to get involved.

Annual General Meeting

Finally, we are due to hold our next AGM shortly, probably towards the end of June. If you’ve not become a member, consider doing so now, before the meeting, so that you have the right to vote.

There are two types of membership depending on where you live and you can find out all about it on the website page.

JOIN US.

Remember to check the website and our social media regularly for updates and blogs.

Make the Heart a Home: Heart of Newhaven launches crowdfunder

We’re moving in: help us make The Heart a home

Help us create a vibrant, welcoming, inclusive centre at the Heart of Newhaven, Edinburgh. We have the funds to buy the site, and the City of Edinburgh Council has agreed to sell it to us, and we will have the keys soon but we need your help to make the vision a reality.

The former Victoria Primary School site IS going to be the Heart of Newhaven Community. The Heart of Newhaven (HoN) will be a brand new intergenerational centre for the whole community to enjoy. The Scottish Land Fund (SLF) has awarded us £792,000 and we were given permission to purchase the site. Victoria Primary School has moved to a new building on a different site and we will be taking over the building SOON.

We will have the building soon but now we need YOUR help to refurbish, furnish and heat it and get it properly up and running, while we build sustainable fundraising and other income.

There is more information about how you can donate here: 

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/moving-in-2022. 

We are also looking for volunteers for people to help clear up so we can get ready to turn The Heart into a community hub. 

If you can help with the crowdfunder, clearing up the site or would like to get involved in other ways, there is information on the website: 

www.heartofnewhaven.co.uk

We need your support. Thank you for any help you can provide!

Best wishes,

CROWDFUNDER

Heart of Newhaven March newsletter

Welcome to your March Newsletter.

“When are you opening?” we hear you ask. We can only repeat that the keys are on their way. We are still working towards a handover on 31st March, but legal processes can be lengthy as well as tiresome and frustrating and have to be gone through, whether we like it or not.

Even if the date does slip into April and the next financial year for some reason, we have been assured by the Scottish Land Fund that the allocated funds will be held for us and handed over as soon as the legal requirements are completed.

The Heart will spring to life soon.

Look out for the Heart of Newhaven Community banners which are now on the old school railings!

The City of Edinburgh Council has given us permission to display them on what is technically still its property, as its commitment to the handover process and hopefully the sight will reassure the whole community that plans for our collaborative, intergenerational community services and activities will start as soon as possible.

As we prepare to take over and operate the site, we are pleased to soon welcome three new trustees to the board. Mike Douglas, Emma Hendon and Layla Robinson have already been working hard with our current trustees and volunteers in our various working groups and have much to contribute. Between them, they bring years of experience in the world of business and finance, as well as the care sector and other charity work.

You can read more about them on the About Us page on the website soon.  

Have you visited the Restoration Forth exhibition currently on at the Botanic Gardens until 24th April? The Heart is one of five chosen local community hubs supporting the project and our information board is right at the heart of the exhibition.

On view are many of the wonderful squares that people have created, including Ian Marshall’s vision of Newhaven made with liner pen and watercolours.

We look forward to curating our own exhibitions and science-based projects once we are installed in the Heart.

Heart of Newhaven: February News

In our last newsletter, we warned you that we may not be in the building until well into March, but we’re into February now and we’re full of optimism: after all, that’s only a few weeks away!

You may have wondered about the apparent abandonment of the now vacant school and we had hoped to put some publicity up on the railings to bring the local community up to date with what is really happening in case they are not connected digitally or have been confused by erroneous publicity elsewhere.

This, for various reasons has not happened yet, but rest assured we are moving in soon and we’re raring to go and keen to welcome you all inside as soon as we can.

Meanwhile, while we wait for the keys, we’ve had successful site visits to check on what’s been left behind from the school move, our architects are busy on our “meanwhile use” plans and checks have been carried out on the state of the building and a list of necessary repairs and works, has been drawn up.

Now for some updates.

Restoration Forth –

An exhibition is to be held at the John Hope Gateway at the Botanic Gardens February 12 – April 24th. All the community hubs, of which we are one of six, are or will be exhibiting boards promoting what we are each offering.

We are excited to be participating in the project, as it supports each of our three themes, culture and heritage, learning and enterprise and an improvement in wellbeing, linked together by generations working together.

Once we are open, we will be hosting citizen science sessions and exhibitions to raise environmental awareness along the Forth Coastline, including wall hangings, craft creations, pop up banners and printed material plus musical events to compliment the exhibition – something for all ages!

Work on our friendship benches has resumed, with youngsters from the Citadel project beginning work on the decoration next weekend with help from local artist Johnathan Elders.

Watch out for the benches: they might be among the first things we move onto the site!

Our collaboration with the Pilmeny Development Project goes from strength to strength with our Friendship Group increasing in numbers and eliciting some wonderful feedback.

“I have been virtually housebound for the last two years. It is wonderful to get out of the house and just chat to so many people,” says one participant.

If you’d like to get involved, you can email Norma Johnson, our HoNC trustee liaison for this at norma_johnston@hotmail.com.

We wouldn’t have got this far without help and support from the community so do check out our Partners page on the website.

That will give you an idea of all the wonderful partners, individuals and organisations who have generously given their money and their time to support the project as well as acknowledging the many and various grants we have been awarded by different funding bodies.

Heart of Newhaven’s New Year newsletter

Welcome to your New Year newsletter

It’s a new year and we hope you’re all raring to go. If you’ve made resolutions, we hope you stick to them!

HoNC certainly intends to. We won the right to purchase the building. We’ve been awarded enough funds from the Scottish Land Fund to pay for it. We have a business plan. We have architects. We have lawyers. We have volunteers at the ready.
What we need now are the keys and then it’s all hands on deck.

“So when will that be?” you ask.

Many of you have no doubt seen that the pupils and staff of Victoria Primary School have now moved into their new building and may be wondering when HoNC will be moving in to the old one.

Well the fact is that it probably won’t be until well into March. There are still formalities to be completed and final contracts to be signed, but the HoNC board is on the case and we’re hoping that there will be no hiccups before we can get started on the real work on the ground.

With the onset of Omicron some of our interim projects about which you might have been expecting news, had to be postponed, but they’re waiting in the wings for the right moment to get going again.

We’ll bring you news about them as soon as we have it.

In the meantime, sign up for free membership if you haven’t already done so, which will give you the right to have your say at the next AGM, (if you live in the area of benefit). Or sign up as a volunteer and offer your skills to the community.

Once we have the keys, we will need all sorts of practical help to get the Heart fit for purpose and operating the way the community would like to see.

We’ll need helping hands to clear any old school “rubbish” left behind, more to clean and paint, and repair and all sorts of things, so get ready.

We’ll be calling on you soon!

News from Heart of Newhaven

Welcome to your December newsletter

Time to reflect on what we have achieved this year with all your help, and to look forward to the next stage of our journey.

The BIG news – We secured the funding from The Scottish Land Fund to buy the school, amazing!

But that was hugely helped by the support we could show from you – the community, not least through our crowdfunder ‘Kick Start the Heart’ in February. Showing such support was and is essential.

Victoria Primary School is moving to their new site over the Christmas period in what will be an exciting step in their long history.

The next step for HoNC is to take vacant possession of the current site and buildings although the actual sale process is in the hands of Edinburgh Council. We anticipate by the end of March but as soon as possible we hope the Heart will begin to beat.

We are working with our architects and Planning Aid Scotland (PAS) to bring all potential tenants and users together to try and ensure that the spaces work to mutual benefit.

In the meantime watch this space for news of initial programmes of community activities and for ways in which you can help us to raise further funds to now keep The Heart beating.

Please continue to spread the word– and if you think you can help us to do that and have skills and experience to offer in communications and marketing, please get in touch!

Don’t forget to follow us on our social media or get in touch via the website and to the read the various blogs!

Finally, have a safe, healthy and happy Christmas and all best wishes for the New Year.