The Screwfix Foundation supports renovation at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, with works taking place from Monday, 24th August until the 4th September.
The project is being delivered in partnership with Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), providing young people with hands-on construction experience and trade skills.
Local Screwfix volunteers will join VIY volunteers to support local community transformation
A Community hub supporting local residents in North Edinburgh is set to benefit from a major courtyard refurbishment, with works planned from 24th August and 4th September.
The renovation project will also give young people who are facing barriers to employment, the chance to gain hands-on construction experience and entry-level trade skills through a partnership between The Screwfix Foundation and Volunteer It Yourself (VIY).
Located in the heart of North Edinburgh, Royston Wardieburn Community Centre acts as a hub for the local community, providing facilities to people of all ages and abilities, including a sports hall, sensory room and outdoor area.
Funded by The Screwfix Foundation, the community centre courtyard will be fitted with new outdoor flooring, and the area will be opened to incorporate their café/kitchen space, allowing all community groups to safely access the outdoor area. Local Screwfix colleagues will also be volunteering on-site, helping to transform the community space alongside young people participating through VIY.
This project forms part of a wider partnership between The Screwfix Foundation and VIY. Across the first seven completed projects funded, 129 young people have taken part.
Following this participation, half of the young volunteers have said they would consider a career in construction and 98 went on to achieve at least one City & Guilds Entry Level 3 accreditation across areas including carpentry, painting and decorating, conduct at work and health and safety. 93% of young people involved felt more confident about getting a job in the future.
Claire Flory, Screwfix Foundation Manager, said,“Royston Wardieburn Community Centre is an important hub for the local community, and we’re proud to support its renovation through our partnership with VIY.
As well as creating a safer and more accessible outdoor space, the project will give young people the opportunity to develop practical skills, build confidence and gain valuable experience that could inspire a future career in the construction industry.”
Hannah Denny, Communications & Partnerships Director, VIY, said, “We’re really excited to be bringing VIY to Scotland for the first time through this project at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.
“It’s a great milestone for us as we continue to expand our reach and impact across the UK, made possible through the collective support of partners including The Screwfix Foundation and George & Annette Bell Foundation.
“We’re looking forward to giving local young people the chance to gain practical skills, experience and qualifications while making a real difference to their community.”
VIY is a not-for-profit community interest company that combines impact in three areas: youth, community and volunteering. Challenging young people to learn skills in construction trades, they support youth in boosting their employability whilst also helping to transform local community spaces.
Please find information below and attached about free courses this term for adults in North Edinburgh:
FIRST STEPS
Following on from the success of last term the First Steps course will now be on a Tuesday morning. Highlights last term included: visits to Edinburgh College, Lauriston Farm; Fresh Start; Granton Community Gardeners; and information sessions at the community centre on:
the redevelopment of West Pilton Park from ELGT;
the National Museum’s collection;
and volunteering.
Sessions start on Tuesday 8th September, but folk can join throughout the term.
We’ll meet at Royson Wardieburn Community Centre, as well as having sessions out and about. Please see the poster for more information and how to book a space.
ADULT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (AAA)
Five local people completed their AAA at a variety of levels last term. We’re going to stick with a time and venue that worked so it will be Thursday mornings again at Muirhouse Library.
Any adult who would like to gain a qualification by reflecting on current or recent learning or volunteering is eligible (SCQF levels 2-6 available). The course starts Thursday 17th September. Please see the poster for more information and how to book a space.
SOCIAL HISTORY
We have limited places available in the Social History group at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, starting back on Thursday 24th September.
Social History is how your life was growing up. What were the formative things that shaped your life? What was the world of work like in the past? How have we got where we are today?
The group will build on their recent work and publication OUR HEALTH, OUR NHS. The group meets on Thursday mornings – prior booking is essential.
SCOTTISH HISTORY
We have limited places available in this group at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, starting back on Tuesday 13th October.
An introduction to some of the key events in Scottish History. Visits to the Museum of Scotland to see Scottish History for ourselves. Scottish history is your past seen in the light of today. See you, See me. We are the future of Scottish History. The group meets on Tuesday mornings – prior booking is essential.
If anyone wants to book a space or wants more information, please do get in touch.
Best wishes
Tim Randall
Development Officer (CLD – Adult & Family Learning)
Wider Achievement & Lifelong Learning I Education I Children, Education & Justice Services
ROYSTON WARDIEBURN COMMUNITY CENTRE: SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER
We’re looking for a choir or singing group to help us spread some Christmas cheer at our FACE Winter Fair on Saturday 28th November 2026 at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.
The fair is from 11am – 3pm and we’re looking for some festive entertainment for an hour approx 12noon – 1pm while people shop and enjoy the cafe. Sing-a-longs and flash mobs welcome!
If you think you can help, or would like to know more, please send us a message.
FACE (are part of NHS Lothian Charity, and money we raise helps go towards the little things that make a big difference to people with cancer and their families in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
We are having some work done in the centre next week w/b 24 August and there are opportunities for local residents to volunteer for a minimum of three days AND earn City and Guilds accreditations.
If you are interested, the contact details are on the poster.
The big clear out is on Thursday. There are household items, some books, bedding and toys for FREE!
We also have some white, two pack, short sleeve shirts, regular and plus fit in age 9-10 and age 7-8 and a few packets of long sleeve in the same sizes.
PLEASE NOTE:
There is a 50p per packet charge for these shirts and first come, first served.
Depending on your age, health conditions, or other factors, you could be eligible for a Covid Spring Booster Vaccine.
Our team will be at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, 11 Pilton Drive North, Edinburgh, EH5 1NF on the 26th May from 10am till 1pm and 1.40pm till 4pm.
For eligibility and details about other pop-up clinics, please click the link below or call the Vaccination Enquiries Helpline: 0300 790 6296.
Getting Along with Gran is Citadel Arts Group’s forthcoming dark comedy developed from stories and memories of older people living in Royston Wardieburn.
The Social History Group who meet at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre asked Citadel’s Playwrights Workshop to work with them. They wanted to create a play inspired by their stories of life in the area from the 1960s to the times of Margaret Thatcher. The Iron Lady makes a brief appearance in the play but definitely not as the heroine! The stories have been collected in a book ‘Windows to Our Past’, edited by tutor Jim Aitken.
The Citadel Playwrights, Elaine Campbell, San Cassimally, Pamela Hanlon, Rhona McAdam, and Richard Peoples held a series of creative meetings with Jim Aitken’s group at Royston Wardieburn CC.
The script emerged from the life stories of Winifred Burke, Pat Gilhooly, Anna Hutchison, Bill and Greta McPhail, Helen McRae, David Norcliffe, Karen Soso, and Cathie Umobi. They were keen for the play to bring their stories to an all-Edinburgh audience.
They told Citadel ‘We want to see our stories travel . . . reach the wider community, especially as this kind of history isn’t taught in schools.’ Jim Aitken assured Citadel, ‘having a play performed that came out of our social history project would be wonderful.’
A performed reading of the play in the community centre back in March showed how much the play appealed to a local audience. Their feedback was music to Citadel’s ears: ‘enjoyable to share these stories from the community – especially of Thatcher . . .interesting period of history, sadly being repeated by the so-called socialist government . . . it brought back lots of memories . . . interesting social history told through a personal story . . . stirred deep emotions. . . . loved the collaboration with school, community actors and everyone.’
This is an am-pro production, and the audience especially enjoyed the involvement of local actors from the Social History Group, and a P4 class from nearby Granton Primary School who held their own beside Citadel’s professional cast.
Davie Norcliffe, a retired janitor, takes the part of the school janitor back in the 1960s when pupils still got the belt for playing up.
The play focuses on Gran (Laverne Edmonds) who can no longer live alone. She has moved in with her daughter’s family, and it is granddaughter Em (Mairi Jayne Weir) who bears the brunt of the reminiscences Gran and her friends (Deborah Whyte and Chelsea Grace) inflict on her. Some memories disturb her and cause nightmares: she gets the belt from a sadistic teacher (Jim Bryce) and is chased by a giant fish and even menaced by Thatcher in a nightmare.
She learns about the highs and lows of Gran’s fascinating life: her romance on Silverknowes Beach and travelling to China with her employees. Her Gran becomes a person she doesn’t mind spending time with. The play tackles serious themes: privatisation, education, disability, political activism and family, with humour which doesn’t belittle anyone’s memories.
With a class from Granton Primary School playing a key role in the performance, this is a truly intergenerational show. The oldest playwright is over 90 years old.
Creative Producer Liz Hare writes, ‘Once again Citadel Arts Group is working with the community to develop a powerful piece of drama involving performers from the area. The play is a celebration of the cultural richness of Royston Wardieburn and will hopefully take people back to the book that inspired the script.’
‘Windows to Our Past’ is available online.
PERFORMANCE DATES: 16TH and 17TH June 1.30pm
VENUE: North Edinburgh Arts, 12C Macmillan Square, EH4 4AB
DIRECTOR: Mark Kydd
Cast: Jim Bryce, Laverne Edmonds, Chelsea Grace, Mairi Jayne Weir and Deborah Whtye,
Community cast: David Norcliffe and Anna Hutchison, and P4 Granton Primary School pupils, Drama Teacher: Fergus McNicoll
Stage Manager: Maggie Brown
Light and Sound Design: Roddy Simpson
Creative Producer: Liz Hare
Playwrights: Elaine Campbell, San Cassimally, Pamela Hanlon, and Rhona McAdam, with additional material from Richard Peoples.
Citadel Arts Group is a charity (SC 034687) dedicated to giving a voice to older people by preserving their stories and producing their plays in a variety of community venues including schools, care homes, Leith Custom House, churches, libraries and a moving barge.
This project is supported by Awards for All, City of Edinburgh Council Neighbourhood Grant (Forth area) and Gordon Fraser Community Trust.
