Heart of Newhaven: July newsletter

It’s officially summer, even if it may not always feel like it. That means that not only are schools now on holiday, but many of our supporters, staff and partners are as well.

That doesn’t mean the there’s nothing happening around the Heart though. Read on for some of the various events that you can come along and take part in and enjoy.

Don’t forget to check the website and social media platforms for up to date news.

The Knitted Christmas Tree update

The Knitted Christmas Tree is five months from opening day and is well on schedule. We are receiving green squares daily from West Sussex, London, Luton as well as every area of Edinburgh and the Lothians. Thank you for every single square and not forgetting the many beautiful tree decorations. We have 5000+ squares and 1000+ decorations.

We are having a series of sewing parties on Friday afternoons from 2-4pm. The dates are 5th July, 19th July and 2nd August. Everyone is welcome to come along. We are sewing the squares into triangles ready to go onto the branches and of course there is coffee, tea and cake!

The fantastic experts of Men’s Shed are busy constructing the trunk but it’s under wraps and no one but the men have seen it.

We had a great day at Leith Market describing what the project is about and thanks to Sara for generously giving us a stall. We met people from all over the world who were fascinated by what is happening and they took away our posting bags.

We are confidently expecting knitting from Texas, New York, New Zealand, Finland and Denmark to name but a few countries. Our Tree is going international and if anyone has a contact on the space station let us know.

More news next month

Save the Date – Tattie Fest 21 September 2024

Join us for our very first Tattie Fest at the Heart of Newhaven. We’ll be celebrating the garden and all thing potato-related at this free, community event.

Expect potato printing, potato fancy dress, a home grown tattie beauty contest and of course lots of potato eating!

If you’d like to get involved in organising, just get in touch with Hayley at bloomyogaedinburgh@gmail.com, and start growing your own now if you’d like to enter the beauty contest…

What’s on your bucket list?  

Whilst developing the Crowdfunder with members of our Heart Dementia Meeting Centre we were able to identify some interesting activities; from indoor rock climbing to canoeing down the canal.

If you would like to help us with our blue-sky ambitions or simply support a member by ‘paying their membership forward’, please go to our crowdfunder and check out the rich array of ‘rewarding ideas’.  

Support The Heart Dementia Meeting Centre – a Community crowdfunding project in Edinburgh by Heart of Newhaven Community (crowdfunder.co.uk)

Don’t forget we have lovely rooms here at the Heart – perfect for meetings but also family gatherings over the summer.   

We have a number of spaces available for booking, including meeting rooms, classrooms and workshop spaces.

We can cater to different types of events and meetings, whether for children’s parties, creative workshops, performance classes and rehearsals, board meetings or networking events.

Spaces can be booked for a single occasion as well as for regular sessions on a mid/long term basis.

More more information or to arrange a viewing of our spaces, please get in touch and we will be happy to help.

Teas and coffees can be provided for an additional charge and external catering arranged on request.

Phone Kim on 0131 259 6838 or email roomhire@heartofnewhaven.co.uk

***STOP PRESS***

Last few spaces on the Look and Draw summer school

Studio Practice Week | Look and Draw

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.