YMCA Edinburgh, in partnership with Bethany Christian Trust and Harbour, are organising two opportunities to share your experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic is part of the Lets Be Heard programme.
We are trying to reach as many people in Leith as possible so the voices and stories of Leiths pandemic experiences are heard.
Our sessions will be on the 24th of October at 1 p.m and 6p.m at the Harbour offices.
The events are open to anyone over 16 who live, work or volunteer in Leith and were here during lockdown.
Around 14,000 children living in deprived areas will have access to more outdoor play opportunities in their local communities, thanks to over half a million in funding from the Scottish Government.
More than 30 charities providing local outdoor play initiatives for children will receive a share of £550,000 to expand their projects.
Edinburgh charities receiving a share of the fund in 2023-24 are:
Bridgend Farmhouse – £15,540.00
Canongate Youth – £9,452.10
North Edinburgh Arts – £14,504.70
Smart Play Network – £14,374.50
YMCA Edinburgh SCIO – £13,778.10
Scotland Yard Adventure Centre – £5,783.21 (below)
The Venchie Children and Young People’s Project – £15,424.50
The Outdoor Community Play Fund will support children and families through the year, including during the school holidays.
Children’s Minister Natalie Don announced the funding during a visit to Renfrew YMCA – one of the 32 charities to receive funding.
Ms Don said: “Outdoor play has an incredibly positive impact on our children’s mental health, wellbeing and confidence. It can teach them how to solve problems, assess risks, boost their physical activity and provide opportunities to meet and interact with others.
“However, options for children to play safely outdoors can be limited, especially for children in deprived areas. At a time when families are struggling with the cost of living crisis, it is even more essential that we provide this vital support to ensure there are outdoor play options available, free of charge, for families across Scotland.
“I am looking forward to seeing how this fund will help grow outdoor community play projects and I am proud that this Scottish Government investment will benefit thousands of children living in our most deprived communities.”
Inspiring Scotland Director of Funds Julia Abel said: “All children have the right to play – not only is it vital for their mental health and wellbeing, but is also supports children to learn social and emotional skills while boosting their physical activity.
“We want to make outdoor play accessible for all children in Scotland. Last year, the programme expanded to include more sessions for children and families with additional support needs.
“The beauty of outdoor community play is that it’s child-led, enabling children to use their creativity and imagination to develop their own ways to have fun, overcome barriers, while teaching life-enhancing skills that will make positive effects all the way into adulthood.”
YMCA Edinburgh encourages votes to be national winner
little dobbies’ Stockbridge store has announced its local Helping Your Community Grow winner, seeing YMCA Edinburgh receive gardening resources to enhance their garden space.
YMCA Edinburgh empower young people, children and their families through mentoring, youth activities, sports and family support. The charity is needs led and delivers activities and supports to help ensure families, irrespective of challenges faced, have the scaffolding in place for children to grow up loved, safe and respected.
YMCA Edinburgh now invites local residents to cast their vote to help the charity be crowned the national winner and receive additional funding and support.
This will include advice, gardening products and plants. Dobbies’ own-brand peat-free multipurpose compost, recycled and recyclable containers, UK-sourced plants and safer pest control products are among the many products the garden centre will donate.
Mike Kerracher, YMCA Edinburgh Association Manager said: “We are hugely grateful for the support from little dobbies Stockbridge. Resources will be used for gardening activities in our outdoor learning sessions with kids and in our Women’s Wellbeing sessions.
“We are well aware of the therapeutic benefits of gardening and this donation will help community members, including those who have experienced trauma and/or do not have access to a garden, feel the benefits of gardening.”
Deirdre Rutherford, General Manager at little dobbies Stockbridge said: “We are delighted to be supporting YMCA Edinburgh and are looking forward to helping them with their gardening activities by donating gardening equipment, plants and compost.”
YMCA Edinburgh has secured a £10,000 donation from Aberdeen Standard Investments Charitable Foundation to expand the charity’s one-to-one mentoring services for vulnerable young people aged between 8 to 14 years who do not meet the criteria of ongoing mentoring programmes.Continue reading Ten vulnerable young people to benefit from 1:1 mentoring
