Granton:hub History group are looking for new members!
The current group would welcome anyone with an interest in local heritage. Members meet on a Saturday morning in the granton:hub archive room, on average every 6-8 weeks, depending on activities.
Joining the group gives members a chance to meet socially, but also deploy any experience they may have in activity planning, researching and writing up stories from the archive, working with archive volunteers, etc. Please get in touch with community@grantonhub.org if you have any questions.
Hi lovely followers! We’re looking for women aged 60 and above to join our Young at Heart group who meet every Friday 1-3pm. Picture this: Bingo thrills, endless laughter, and heart-warming tea sessions—all in one fantastic group!
Our ladies indulge in friendly Bingo battles, games of Dominos and savour cups of tea, having a good old natter and a laugh at the same time. Whether you’re interested yourself, or have an amazing lady in your life who might benefit from some relaxed socialising and games, get in touch!
You can pop into the centre or give us a message and we can get you or someone you know set up.
We can provide taxi transport for those less able to get to the centre independently. Please share and spread the message so we can make sure no one gets left behind.
A Help for Heroes virtual book club, which was launched in North Wales, has now gone nationwide as the Charity looks to engage further – and in different ways – with veterans across the country.
And organisers are particularly keen to recruit new members from the Edinburgh area.
The club was the brainchild of the Armed Forces charity’s Project Case Manager, Sarah Hattle, whose role is to tackle loneliness and isolation among veterans in Mid- and North Wales. She also hosts the event, which is encouraging participants to make connections with each other beyond, merely, their shared military service.
The club was quick to receive the patronage of one veteran for whom books have taken on a new meaning post-service.
Former Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander-turned-author, Mike Klidjian, donated 10 copies of his first novel, Bluestreak, to the group and joined a session in February to discuss it with participants.
SarahHattle said: “It’s great that Mike attended because it meant a lively discussion and helped people to engage more easily with the characters.
“The virtual book club concept is ideal for veterans as they are spread nationwide, and this is something they can do online across any distance. It provides a catalyst for group work where they can engage with like-minded people and make new friends in a relaxed atmosphere.
“It has been proven connections are far more likely to be meaningful if there is a shared interest, rather than just a group based on demographics. If the only commonality in the group was just their military service, it is less likely people will connect meaningfully. People attending the group will have – or will gain – an interest in books and reading, and I’m hopeful this will spark friendships beyond the bounds of the group.
“And, whatever the book and topic under discussion, just the regular interaction is both beneficial and enjoyable for all.”
Hattle has already lined up further authors to participate, as they offer their support to the Charity’s efforts to get veterans to engage further.
The next author to attend a session will be Welsh writer Rebecca F John, who will discuss her novel The Empty Greatcoat, a fictionalised account of a British soldier’s experiences during WWI, inspired by the journals of her great-great uncle.
Help for Heroes believes those who serve our country deserve support when they’re wounded. Every day, men and women have to leave their career in the Armed Forces as a result of physical or psychological wounds.
The Charity helps them, and their families, to recover and get on with their lives. It has already supported more than 26,500 people and won’t stop until every wounded veteran gets the support they deserve.
The book club meets three times a month with the next scheduled meeting on 7 March.
We will be holding our AGM via Zoom on Wednesday 26th May from5:30 – 6.30pm.
It is open to everyone who would like an update on the progress of the charity.
If you would like to attend, please email grantongarden@gmail.com and we will send you the Zoom link the day before.
If you would like to have a say in what goes on and be able to vote, we would ask you to become a member, which is free and can be done by filling out the attached form (below) and returning it to us via email, post or in-person.
Join the Young at Heart club! 
