Edinburgh charities receive boost from Miller Homes Community Fund

Two Edinburgh charities supporting vulnerable children and families have received a funding boost from the Miller Homes Community Fund.

Hearts & Minds and Home Link Family Support have been awarded £2,000 each through the initiative, which supports charities and community organisations located close to Miller Homes developments.

Hearts & Minds will use the funding to support its Clowndoctors programme at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh. The programme brings moments of play, laughter and connection to children facing serious illness, helping to reduce anxiety and improve wellbeing during hospital stays.

Meanwhile, Home Link Family Support will use its funding to help sustain specialist Stay & Play sessions for families of young children with additional support needs or neurodivergence. The sessions provide practical support, reduce isolation and help families build vital peer networks.

Miller Homes Clown Doctors 1 SA : Miller Homes Clown Doctors All images © Stewart Attwood Photography 2026. All other rights are reserved. Use in any other context is expressly prohibited without prior permission.

Neil Gaffney, Regional Sales Director for Miller Homes Scotland East, said: “Both of these organisations are making a profound difference to families across Edinburgh, often during some of the most challenging times in their lives.

“Whether it’s bringing joy to children in hospital or providing vital support for families navigating additional support needs, the impact of their work is truly inspiring. We’re delighted to be able to support both charities through our Miller Community Fund.”

Sean Donnelly, from Hearts & Minds, said: “A smile can be incredibly powerful, especially for a child facing a hospital stay. This funding will help our Clowndoctors continue creating moments of laughter, connection and comfort when children and their families need them most.

“We’re hugely grateful to Miller Homes for helping us bring a little more joy into hospital wards across Edinburgh.”

Paula Swanston, from Home Link Family Support, said: “Many of the families we support are facing long waits for assessments and often feel isolated while trying to find the right help for their children.

“This funding will help us continue providing a welcoming space where parents can access practical support, share experiences and feel less alone. We’re incredibly thankful to Miller Homes for recognising the importance of this work.”

Miller Homes’ Community Fund is a bi-annual initiative that supports charities, community groups and local organisations located near its developments across the UK.

For more information regarding the community fund, visit www.millerhomes.co.uk.

One week left to apply for Miller Homes Community Fund

Miller Homes Community Fund open for second round of 2025 applications
Funding pot of £10,000 available to support community projects across Scotland 

Miller Homes, Scotland’s leading homebuilder, is inviting local groups and causes near its West Craigs Manor and Edgelaw View developments in Edinburgh to apply for the second round of its Community Fund in 2025, offering those in need within its development areas a share of £10,000.

Applications are open and will close on Wednesday 15 October 2025.

Since launching in 2022, the Community Fund has made a meaningful difference to local communities across Scotland, awarding £344,000 in grants to 538 organisations. The initiative has helped a wide range of projects, from supporting foodbanks, sports teams, music groups and creative spaces. 

So far in 2025 Community Fund has supported eight groups across Scotland with a share of £10,000, with groups including Linlithgow Community First Responders, Clackmannan Community FC 2017’s, Bonnyrigg Rose Community Foodball Club, and more. 

David McGrath, Executive Managing Director for Miller Homes Scotland and North said: “At Miller Homes, we’re passionate about giving back to the communities where we build.

“Through Community Fund, we’ve been able to support many groups across Scotland, whether that’s by helping them launch new initiatives or by ensuring they can continue their valuable work in the local community.

“We look forward to seeing the creative and impactful ways local organisations plan to use this round of funding.”

Applicants will be asked to outline how they plan to use the funding to benefit their local community. Grants will range from a minimum of £250 to a maximum of £2,000. Applications will be reviewed in November, with funding awarded in December 2025. 

For more information on the Community Fund or how to apply, visit:

https://www.millerhomes.co.uk/corporate/community-fund

PICTURED: Bonnyrigg Rose Community Football Club General Manager Jim Wilson, Development Manager Trish Sime, and Miller Homes’ Development Sales Manager Jenna Fordyce (© Phil Wilkinson Photography)