Stockbridge Primary Parent Council are hosting a charity walk, with half the proceeds being kindly donated to LifeCare.
The walk is completely free, and a lovely opportunity for everyone to get out, enjoy good company and have a picnic and raffle afterwards!
9.30am-11.30am this Saturday.
The walk starts at Saunders St EH3 6TQ in Stockbridge
Call for Volunteer Speakers at LifeCare Community Talks
Local charity, LifeCare is inviting local people to share their knowledge and passions as part of it’s popular free to attend monthly “Talks at LifeCare” programme.
Held on the second Friday of each month in LifeCare’s welcoming hub in Stockbridge, the talks offer a relaxed and friendly space for people to come together and learn something new.
The charity is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to deliver informal talks on a wide range of topics. Previous sessions have included The Water of Leith, Grandparent First Aid, and Fashion Through the Ages.
Full support is provided, making this an ideal opportunity for anyone interested in giving back to their community, sharing knowledge and expertise.
The LifeCare Talks project is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland.
To find out more or express interest, contact Sarah Duckmanton at:
SINGALONG FOR SCOTLAND
A former business executive is swapping spreadsheets for songs to perform for people with dementia at the Edinburgh Fringe in memory of his father.
Johnny Collington, 62, who lives in the capital, first picked up the instrument in a bid to connect with his dad Stan, who had recently been diagnosed with dementia. Stan, originally from Motherwell, passed away in February aged 99.
Johnny is now registered to perform a series of shows at the Fringe in August to raise funds for Alzheimer Scotland.
The married dad-of-two, who was born in Irvine but grew up in Lanarkshire, said: “I had been living and working in London for many years, but I took early retirement and moved back to Scotland, to Edinburgh, about six years ago. My mum Betty had passed away and my dad was in his early 90s and needed more support.
“My dad was diagnosed initially with severe cognitive impairment but his condition progressed quickly to dementia. He moved into a care home and soon could no longer communicate.
“I’d never been much of a musician in the past, but I owned a guitar and knew a few chords. By chance I took the guitar with me to visit dad and tried to play and sing a couple of traditional Scottish songs that I knew he liked.
“Amazingly, as soon as I started playing I could see him connect with me and start singing along. It was remarkable how he suddenly came to life. I realised then that music is a great connector.
“From that point I started seriously teaching myself how to play the guitar and looked for more songs to sing – anything quite traditionally Scottish with a good beat is always a winner.”
Before long, Johnny was asked by the manager of his dad’s care home if he would play for all the residents – many of whom also had dementia. Word soon spread and he now plays at 12 care homes, centres and other venues from Perth to North Lanarkshire and across the east coast, including at Alzheimer Scotland’s outdoor dementia resource centre at Lauriston Castle.
Johnny said: “I get the same reaction from the other people with dementia who I play for as I did from my dad. It’s fantastic how everyone brightens up when they hear the music and join in.
“One chap who was non-verbal and would usually seem quite disconnected, suddenly sat up, took a tambourine and started hitting it in time with the music.
“I’m a bit nervous about the Fringe but also really looking forward to performing and being part of such a world-famous festival. My shows are aimed at people with dementia but also to anyone who enjoys traditional Scottish music. It feels great to be on a new journey now and to be able to give back to the community.
“I want to keep doing what I can to bring music to people living with dementia and to support the amazing work of Alzheimer Scotland for as long as I can.”
FRIDAY 12th JUNE 12 – 4pm at LIFECARE
We are excited to invite you along for our annual Summer BBQ! Held at our fully accessible hub at LifeCare 2 Cheyne St in Stockbridge.
Look forward to a bouncy castle, children’s activities, games and of course a proper BBQ all completely free. Everyone welcome! We can’t wait to see you there 
Donations are welcome in order to support the work we do as a charity.
4th MAY from 11am – 1pm
With Spring in full bloom, we are inviting you to our Teddy Bears’ Picnic!
Bring your little ones (and their favourite teddy!) along for a fun-filled morning of lunch and children’s entertainment.
The picnic will be held at The LifeCare Centre, our fully accessible community hub on the 4th of May 11am – 1pm. Children under 12 months go FREE of charge.
Don’t forget to bring your teddy bear for the full picnic experience! We hope to see you there.
Grab your tickets now: [https://events.humanitix.com/teddybears-picnic]
We’re delighted to share that LifeCare has successfully secured funding and installed a solar photovoltaic (PV) system at our much-loved community Hub in Stockbridge.
This exciting project, funded by the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), will allow us to generate clean, renewable energy on-site, helping to significantly reduce our energy costs and carbon footprint.
With over 47,000 visits to the Hub each year, this investment will have a lasting impact, not only on our building, but on the thousands of people who rely on our services.
Lowering our energy bills will allow us to reinvest more into what matters most: supporting local older people – including those living with dementia and those experiencing loneliness and social isolation – while continuing to deliver a wide range of accessible activities that bring people of all ages from within the local community together.
The funding has also enabled us to install battery storage, meaning we can store and use more of the energy we generate, further improving efficiency and resilience against rising energy costs.
Claire Montgomery, Communications and Fundraising Manager at LifeCare Edinburgh said: “We’re incredibly grateful to CARES for making this project possible, and to Culbertson Renewables Ltd for the fantastic work they did fitting the panels at The LifeCare Centre.
“This funding is not only helping us reduce our environmental impact, but it also means we can direct more resources into supporting older people across our community. It’s a win for both sustainability, and the people we’re here to support.”
This exciting project marks a key step in our commitment to sustainability and to supporting Scotland’s journey to net zero, demonstrating how community organisations can lead the way in tackling climate change while continuing to deliver vital frontline services.
We look forward to sharing the impact of this project and using this opportunity to raise awareness of renewable energy across our community.
Join us for our free LifeCare talk this Friday!
LifeCare Hub, 2 Cheyne St, Stockbridge
Free tea and coffee
During this session we’ll be looking back at what the people of Edinburgh and the Lothians, have chosen to wear over the decades; following fads & fashions from the past and how we dressed to impress.
We’ll look at where people shopped for their clothing, whether buying traditional tartan, a Victorian corset on Princes Street, teen garb in Leith or flared denim on 1970s Cockburn Street.
We look forward to seeing you all there!
STARTS WEDNESDAY 18th FEBRUARY
Our Community Natters group will be returning as of next week!
These informal discussions around current affairs and community issues will take place every Wednesdays from 10–11.30am in our community café. This will be hosted by our fantastic volunteer Gordon.
Feel free to stay around for our games afternoon afterwards. Every Wednesday afternoons, from 1.45–3pm, Games Afternoon offers a chance to socialise over board games and puzzles, including Scrabble, chess, dominoes, cards and more.
If you have any questions feel free to get in touch. All our community events are free and no booking is required. Just pop along and join in!
For our full list of community events, see our website https://www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk/community-activities/
Local runners are being encouraged to kick off their New Year fitness goals – or keep their good habits going – by signing up to run for a cause at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2026.
With standard entries for the Full and Half Marathon now sold out, the charity-exclusive entry period is officially underway. That means the only way to secure a place in these flagship events is by running for charity – and LifeCare Edinburgh is calling on the local community to join Team LifeCare!
Taking place over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend 23/24th May 2026, the Edinburgh Marathon Festival offers nine distances, from 5Ks to the full 26.2 miles, all set against some of Edinburgh’s most stunning routes. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just getting started, there’s a challenge to suit every ability.
Why run for Team LifeCare?
By running for LifeCare, every mile you cover helps support older people in our community to live healthier, more connected lives.
Final entry deadline: 1pm, Saturday 31 January 2026 (Full & Half Marathon charity places)
What your fundraising could support
Funds raised by Team LifeCare runners help deliver vital services for older people across Edinburgh, including:
Ready to start your New Year challenge?
Places are limited, and demand is high. Runners are encouraged to sign up now to avoid disappointment.
Sign up today and secure your place: https://tinyurl.com/TeamLifeCare
LifeCare invites locals to get together with a packed programme this winter
LifeCare Edinburgh is inviting local people to stay connected with a full programme of free and welcoming community activities at its thriving Community Hub in the heart of Stockbridge.
January can feel long and isolating, but LifeCare’s hub offers a warm, friendly space for people of all ages to come together. From relaxed social groups to creative and wellbeing activities, the charity’s timetable is designed to lift spirits and build connections during the winter months.
The popular Chatty Café runs every Monday from 11am–1pm, offering a relaxed space for anyone who fancies a blether and a cuppa. Tables are set aside specifically for people who want to meet others and enjoy friendly conversation. Join us next Mon 19th to help celebrate our Chatty Café’s 2nd birthday complete with a piece of cake!
Families are welcome at the Pop-Up Play Area for Under 5s, available on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9am–2pm, allowing parents and carers to relax in the café while children enjoy safe, fun play.
Creative types can join Craft in the Café on Tuesdays from 12.30–2.30pm. These informal sessions welcome knitters, crocheters and crafters of all abilities, with no need to book.
Wednesday afternoons from 1.45–3pm offer a Games Afternoon, with board games and puzzles including Scrabble, chess, dominoes and cards. The Community Natters discussion group will also be returning soon, with details to be announced.
At weekends, LifeCare’s Saturday Social runs from 12.30–3.30pm offering games, conversation and a hot lunch and drinks.
All these activities are provided for free thanks to our volunteers and funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.
LifeCare also provides a range of free, accessible health and wellbeing activities for unpaid carers, supported by the Short Breaks Fund. Carers are welcome to bring along the person they care for.
For full details visit:
https://www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk/2026/01/08/brighten-up-your-january-at-lifecare
or call 0131 343 0940.
