Everyone is welcome to come along to LifeCare’s free family Summer BBQ on Friday 20th June, 12 – 4pm, Cheyne Street, Stockbridge.
We have two market stall places left for those wanting to sell their crafts or promote their local business – first come, first served!
Donations welcome.
Opened as Stockbridge House in 1975, the LifeCare Hub on Cheyne Street has been a vital part of the local community for fifty years.
Originally established as a day centre for older people, it has evolved into a fully accessible, intergenerational community hub for everyone. A hugely popular big, bright and beautiful space, the hub hosts over 80 different weekly activities and welcomes over 47,000 visits a year from people who live across the city.
Run by local charity LifeCare Edinburgh, the organisation ensures all its services are affordable, or offered for free, so that everyone gets the chance to take part in community activities which help to keep them connected and support their health and wellbeing.
However, with continuing rising energy, staff and insurance costs the charity is bracing itself for an anticipated 30% increase in overall running costs this year creating a shortfall of around £30,000 this year alone.
The charity is launching an urgent appeal to help cover this shortfall and help sustain its hub and support for those that need it most.
Sarah Van Putten, CEO of LifeCare said: “The LifeCare hub is a really important place for local people. We are very proud of the support we offer and the accessible spaces we make available for everyone in our community. In an increasingly isolated world, where would people go if we didn’t exist?
“We want to be here for years to come, but we need support. No donation is too small, if we received £1 each time a person visited, we’d cover our shortfall and help sustain our future. Please give what you can.”
Lynne Herbert provides LifeCare’s free hairdressing for unpaid carers and runs her own yoga classes from the hub on a Monday and Thursday. Lynne said: “The LifeCare Hub is such an amazing place.
“From the moment you walk in, you feel welcomed and full of joy. It’s there for everyone, young to old and the combination of everyone interacting together is just priceless.”
LifeCare works alongside a dedicated group of volunteers who generously give their time to ensure the smooth running and a friendly greeting for visitors.
Shirley Galbraith is often one of the first happy faces visitors encounter when they enter the hub. Shirley said: “I feel that I am making a small difference to some peoples’ day by just chatting or helping them see what classes or services they could use. It makes me feel great!
“People should support the hub appeal to make sure that these services can continue – it is such a fantastic charity.
“The best thing is the variety of amazing services and classes that are offered. Supporting this appeal will ensure they are there for years to come!”
The charity is running an information morning from the LifeCare Hub on Monday 2nd June 11am-1pm. Come along to find out more and chat about how to get involved.
Everyone is also welcome at LifeCare’s Community BBQ on Friday 20th June 12noon – 4pm, with free food, bouncy castle and a whole range of activities for local people of all ages.
Visits www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk for more information.
Are you over 50 and looking for a wee bit of help with your IT? LifeCare Edinburgh and ACE IT are here to help.
Come along to CafeLife, 2 Cheyne Street, 10am-12noon on Tuesday 29th April to chat with the experts.
We’ll be offering support and answering questions about how to use a device, access online content and how to stay safe online. And any other burning technical questions you might have!
All advice is free thanks to support from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Everyone is invited to the LifeCare Spring Fair this Saturday 26 April, 1030-1330.
Come along to our fully accessible community hub on Cheyne Street in Stockbridge to enjoy a wander around our stalls, indulge in some delicious home baking, pick up some new plants or raffle tickets and help support our charity!
FREE Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund
Teas, coffees and morning rolls will be available from our cafe.
We can’t wait to welcome you!
Thinking about what would happen in the future if our, or our loved ones, faculties deteriorated can be stressful and worrying. How would someone manage our affairs, access our accounts to set up the right care for us, or pay the bills? Without the right processes in place, an already very emotional situation can be made worse with often very serious consequences.
Local charity, LifeCare Edinburgh understands how daunting and complex these situations can be and will next month host a free information giving event to help debunk the complexities and help people put the right practical support in place to ensure someone trusted can quickly make decisions on behalf of a loved one if they’re not able, or no longer able, to make them themselves.
Power of Attorney is a legal document where someone – while they still have mental capacity – nominates a trusted friend or relative to look after their affairs if they later lost capacity in the event of an emergency, illness or accident. It is not limited to people who are older or unwell, everyone needs to consider setting up a Power of Attorney at any stage of life to avoid any future complications. For example, due to having a stroke, serious accident or dementia.
Delivered in partnership with experts from Lindsay’s Legal Services team, LifeCare initially held this successful event last year designed to help simplify matters for local people. This first event was so well attended that the organisers are bringing it back to meet demand. One attendee noted:
“LifeCare’s informative Power of Attorney talk spurred me on to have the difficult conversations with my mother that we had both been avoiding, resulting in her setting up a will and PoA. Future planning felt like an act of love and respect; it also inspired me to start planning for myself. Thank you.”
Sarah van Putten, Chief Executive of LifeCare said: “Unfortunately at LifeCare we are well aware of how stressful life can be when people don’t have the right documents in place. No one can predict when they may face an unforeseen illness, accident or other debilitating event that may render them incapacitated.
“As one of Edinburgh’s leading charities providing practical care support we know how emotional these situations can be at the best of times but we also know how much worse they can be when family members and loved ones are locked out of helping access the support for the people they care for.
“Relatives can’t just walk into a bank and access your money, even if it is to pay for your care. Unless you’ve a Power of Attorney, loved ones would need to apply through court, which can be long and costly.
“We understand that thinking about the future can be upsetting and frightening. We’re thrilled to bring back our free and informal information giving event delivered in partnership with Lindsays; there will be no jargon and there will be plenty of time for questions and discussions and an opportunity to discuss any concerns with legal experts for free.”
LifeCare’s ‘What is Power of Attorney’ event, delivered in partnership with Lindsay’s, will take place at 3pm on Wednesday 21st May in the charity’s fully accessible community café, CafeLife at 2 Cheyne Street, EH4 1JB.
Free tea and coffee will be available along with the opportunity to find out more about LifeCare’s vital services for older people and the community overall.
The event is free to attend but those interested are encouraged to register their interest on Eventbrite https://shorturl.at/ypqMO or by calling the friendly team on 0131 343 0940.
LifeCare is a forward-thinking growing charity established in 1941, that supports people 50+ across Edinburgh through a wide range of community-based support services, alongside running a community Café and Hub which is open to the public. We employ over 80 staff and are supported by a diverse range of volunteers.
“I’ve noticed a difference since LifeCare’s visits started. When I call Dad, he is more upbeat and chattier than he has been in ages.”
Our Board of Trustees is made up of up to 12 amazing people who give up their time to benefit the organisation and those we support by sharing their own skills, knowledge and experiences to provide our governance and leadership.
As a board we routinely audit our skills, and we are currently seeking two new Board Members who could bring expertise in any of the following areas to our organisation:
• Communications and/or Marketing
• Venue/centre management or hospitality
• Lived experience as an unpaid carer to an older person
• Running a Social Enterprise
The role is non-remunerated however expenses will be reimbursed, and training/ongoing support will be provided. The board usually meets early evening either in person or online.
If you would like an informal chat about the role before considering applying, please contact sarahvanputten@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk .
Application notes
Please read the role description here: https://tinyurl.com/cnekx5zr
to see if this is you and, if so, complete the potential trustee form explaining how your skills and experience could benefit LifeCare – and email this to:
sarahvanputten@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk .
We look forward to receiving your application.
LifeCare
Are you looking to get out and about and meet new people? Then we hope you will join us 11am – 1pm on Monday 13th January at LifeCare’s warm and welcoming community cafe, CafeLife (2 Cheyne Street), as we celebrate the 1st birthday of our Chatty Cafe and help turn Blue Monday into Brew Monday.
Enjoy coffee, tea, cake and conversation as we bring the community together round our Chatter and Natter Table.
We’re incredibly proud of all we have achieved this year and hope you can join us to celebrate!
Chatty Cafe is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Our Christmas Fair is happening THIS SATURDAY!
Just a few days until we bring the local community together at The LifeCare Centre, 2 Cheyne Street, Edinburgh, EH4 1JB, THIS SATURDAY, the 7th of December, between 11am and 3pm, for a fun filled day of Christmas magic at our charity fair!
Come along on the day and enjoy: – Craft Stalls – Santa’s Grotto (bookings on 0131 343 0940) – Gifts – Raffle – Merry tunes and delicious festive treats
Whether you’re looking for unique Christmas gifts, or just a chance to make a difference by supporting your local charity so we can keep local older people warm and well this winter, we’d love to see you there!
Mark your calendars and spread the word!
Local charity, LifeCare Edinburgh, is marking St Andrew’s Day by announcing first family friendly ceilidh.
This Burn’s Day, join LifeCare Edinburgh for dancing and delicious food at our Community Ceilidh. Enjoy music from the Gallivanters Ceilidh Band and traditional Scottish stovies.
Everyone is welcome at this fully accessible, family friendly event at the LifeCare Centre on Cheyne Street in the heart of Stockbridge.
Date: Saturday 25th January
Time: 2-4pm
Family ticket £28 (2 adults & 2 kids)
Adult ticket £10
Child ticket £5 (under 3’s go free)
Booking is open now via eventbrite or by calling 0131 343 0940
We can’t wait to welcome you!
LifeCare’s Christmas Fair is back!
But this year we have added an extra ho ho ho … book a slot to meet Santa on Saturday 7th December 11.30am – 2.30pm at our family friendly community hub on Cheyne Street.
£8 (including a small gift) with all proceeds supporting our vital services, call 0131 343 0940 to book in.
See you there!
