Current Member Choice Groups - East Region
Canongate Youth
Canongate Youth offers activities and support to children and young people, aged 5 to 24 years in the South East area of Edinburgh. The range of services includes youth and play clubs, holiday provision, music sessions, as well as providing schools with wellbeing support for their pupils.
Funding will be used to support the delivery of fun, engaging weekly clubs provided for ages 5 to 18 and for their vital holiday programmes. The clubs are held three times a week and are split into 5 to 12 years and 12 to 18 years, and are free and open to all without any referral process, with over 350 young people attending annually. The young people also benefit from a healthy, nutritious meal. The weekly sessions and the holiday club provide activities that promote wellbeing, skill-building, and new connections to build long-lasting friendships in a positive environment.
Care for Carers
Care for Carers is seeking support for their ‘Stepping Out’ residential breaks, which take place across Scotland.
Due to a lack of access to respite care, and delays accessing treatment, which restricted the ability of the person being cared for to be independent, the hours spent caring take a toll on carers’ physical and mental health. The ‘Stepping Out’ programme aims to provide carers with the chance to rest, enjoy activities outside of their usual routines, and to spend time with others in a similar position to themselves, providing a feeling of support and connection.
Croft Street Hub
Croft Street Hub’s project aims to transform an overgrown garden into a dynamic outdoor learning environment, where young people grow their own fruit and vegetables as part of a ‘Seed to Soup’ initiative. Through this, they gain hands-on experience in food sustainability, healthy living, and outdoor education.
Funding would help equip their outdoor kitchen with essential items such as counters, cupboards, a gas stove, and a fridge, as well as expand their growing space with raised beds, fruit trees, a greenhouse, and water collection systems. Protective clothing and tools would ensure safe access for all participants, and additional resources would support accredited learning tied directly to garden-based activities. Through practical involvement in planning, construction, horticulture, and cooking, the project aims to equip young people with essential life skills while they work towards meaningful accreditations, including SQA units, Saltire Awards, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Doors In The Wall Arts Access CIC
Doors in the Wall Arts Access CIC aims to continue running their successful in-person creative meet-ups in Edinburgh for neurodivergent and disabled adults, building a local network that fosters an inclusive and thriving arts community and provides a welcoming space where participants can socialise, collaborate, and explore their creative potential, helping to improve mental health and wellbeing.
Each session lasts around two hours, facilitated by specialists, with materials and refreshments provided. Events take place in accessible venues equipped with sensory supports, captions, Easy Read documents, quiet spaces, and rest breaks to ensure a comfortable environment.
Funding would enable the running of a full programme of events throughout the year and expand their Access Library with additional sensory equipment. These activities serve people with diverse neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, and bipolar disorder, with participants benefiting from reduced isolation, increased social connection, and improved wellbeing.
Community Listening Project
Funding would enable the introduction of an Additional Support Needs Carers Support Group within the community. The project would begin by researching and confirming local needs, completing relevant training, and networking with professionals before launching a pilot phase, offering support talks and information sessions for carers. Further community support initiatives would include training in bereavement and dementia awareness, visiting speakers, as well as advanced food hygiene courses.
The funding would also enhance support for struggling families by expanding the existing Christmas bag program. In addition to essential items, the bags would include invitations to a Christmas treat event, providing families with a stress-free opportunity to enjoy time together and connect with others.
With sufficient funding, the project could expand existing activities, such as adding a post-Christmas family event, doubling the number of Hub events, and increasing outings for the bereavement group. While most equipment is in good condition, a new fridge and a management/admin fee are also included in the planned budget.
Pennypit Trust
Support for the Pennypit Trust’s ‘Holiday Hunger’ programme would help provide over 250 children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with two nutritious hot meals a day, including healthy snacks, throughout the school holidays. Funding would also cover the cost of engaging activities such as inflatables, animal encounters, swimming, and sports, offering enriching experiences for participants. Additionally, the programme would support and reward young volunteers through training and recognition, while also providing essential resources like PPE and cooking equipment to run safe and effective lunch clubs.