Capital in the Community

Together, we can make good things happen in your local community.

Help us to make a difference.

We regularly donate to local community initiatives through our Capital in the Community.

Nominate a good local cause in our Common Bond area – one with a specific project which could benefit from this funding.

And you could play a direct role in impacting our community.

How does it work?

Members contact a local cause which has a specific project they need funding for. Simply share this webpage with them!

The organisation checks this page to ensure they qualify. Then they fill out the request form below.

Our team reviews the requests regularly and decide which project to allocate the donation to so we can have the greatest impact.

Criteria?

Before submitting the form below, please read the following:

Nominated organisations must be a registered charity. You can search for your organisation here: OSCR | Home*
They must be actively supporting communities or projects within our Common Bond
They agree to tell us about the impact of the donation if we ask.
The ETA nominating member and the organisation agree to participate in any PR and marketing opportunities related to the award.
The award can only be made to fund specific projects and/or events and cannot be used to fund ongoing costs or repay loans.
Each organisation is only permitted to make one donation request each year.

* We may consider voluntary groups or individuals that aren’t registered on a case by case basis.

Capital in the Community - Nomination Form

NOMINATING MEMBER *

NOMINATING MEMBER

NOMINATING MEMBER *

NOMINATING MEMBER

BENEFICIARY OF REQUEST

BENEFICIARY OF REQUEST *

Do you consent to participating publicly in the receiving of the fund across social media and our website?

Great causes we've helped so far...

Dads Rock

Support for new Dads experiencing anxiety and needing support during pregnancy and when their baby is born. They organise activities for parents (with a focus on Dads) to help them to look after and engage with their children - developing stronger emotional relationships with their children from the moment they are born. Activities include: free weekly Dads groups, outdoor play sessions & Dads buggy walks, and one-to-one mentoring and support for vulnerable Young Dads. Dads Rock will be using the £500 from Capital in the Community to buy new equipment for their popular parenting workshops, in particular their Dads Antenatal and Hairstyling workshops. Dads Rock parenting workshops provide opportunities for parents from all backgrounds to come together, learn and meet other families who are going through the same experiences and issues.

EATS Rosyth

EATS Rosyth is a community-led charity with a focus on improving access to nutritious food and the natural world. They offer volunteering opportunities in Rosyth and have about 100 volunteers. EATS tackles social isolation and facilitates community-led activities. They operate from Rosyth Community Hub, Rosyth Community Garden and Rosyth Centenary Orchard. They are currently renovating a building which will become the new Rosyth Community Hub. They have seriously outgrown their current hub. Their organisation's role in the community has become pivotal in relation to the services and opportunities they offer, and they are looking forward to opening a larger building where they can welcome people to enjoy social and educational opportunities in their community. Their hub will have a community cafe, a training kitchen, flexible use space for groups/events (e.g. a Dementia Friendly Meeting Centre). They'll host organisations offering financial advice and different types of support and intend to run a community hub in the truest sense. This money will be really useful in helping them complete renovations and open before 2023.

Bridgend Farmhouse

Bridgend Farmhouse is a community-owned and run hub and Development Trust in South-East Edinburgh. It's mission is to create a place for learning, working, and growing together to develop a flourishing community and place. They aim to enable socially excluded and residents of all ages and backgrounds in their area of benefit (Craigmillar/Niddrie, Inch, Moredun and Gilmerton) to live healthy, connected and satisfying lives through creative, physical, and purposeful activities that develop connections, skills and confidence. They also have a specific focus on sustainability, active travel, gardening, environmental education and outdoor play so that health inequalities and climate action can be tackled together at a local level. It's charitable aims are to: advance community development through place-based education and training; learning and recreational activities in the outdoors and local woodlands; promote physical and mental health; reduce social isolation and health inequalities; promote arts, local heritage, and culture; promote equality and diversity through accessible facilities and activities; and promote environmental protection and sustainability; enhance the protection and enjoyment of Craigmillar Castle Park. They have a range of projects and activities such as; cafe and catering training; gardening; woodwork clubs; dry-stane dyking; lime-pointing training; straw-bale building; singing group; arts/crafts group; mental health peer support group; landscaping; bike repair and bike hire and classes; outdoor play for 5 to 12 years; inclusive play for 0 to 5 year olds with disabilities; tai chi; holiday programmes for kids and families; music concerts; and seasonal community events; and Eco-Bothy.

Dean and Cauvin Young Trust

Dean and Cauvin Young People’s Trust would like to provide care experienced young people and their children with the opportunity of a holiday and day trips throughout the year. We would like to provide the funds for travel costs, clothing and any other costs for these experiences. Many of our young people do not have the funds for these opportunities and it is important for their emotional and physical health and wellbeing, memory making experiences which help to build confidence, self-esteem, and social skills. The grant would enable young people from Edinburgh to experience a holiday and day trips. This would include holiday to Blackpool, Berwick, Five Sister zoo, Royal Botanic Gardens, Circus, Portobello Beach, Go Ape, Edinburgh Castle, Fringe Shows. The COVID pandemic presents new challenges and hardships for the care experienced young people and families we support. The impact of the virus on low-income families will be evident for years to come, and we are keen to future proof our response to ensure we do everything in our power to support the hardest to reach in our communities. The Trust hopes to provide these opportunities and day trips for the young people we support. It is hoped this support and opportunities will help reduce isolation and hugely impact on their mental and physical health. It is hoped that this will help the young people connect with the community and build self confidence and esteem.

Leith Pantry

Leith Pantry is a food club offering dignity, choice and hope within its community. By offering a wide range of top-quality foods, members can save money on their shopping bills for a small weekly subscription. As reported increasingly in the news, it’s not right that there are people in Leith drowning in just the daily costs of living and paying the bills. The numbers of people using emergency food facilities such as food banks and other initiatives helping to relieve food poverty, is on the increase and because of this we have identified the need for a Local Pantry. Leith Pantry is not a foodbank and is more than just a local shop as the Pantry sources it’s food by partnering with regional and national food redistribution projects such as Fareshare, local businesses and supermarkets to offer a wide range of top-quality food, including fresh fruit and veg, frozen and chilled food, meat and dairy products, and long-life tinned and packaged food. This redistribution of food reduces what goes into landfill and more importantly, prevents hunger by enabling individuals and families to buy affordable foods. Pantries are designed to look and feel like a local shop. By offering members a choice and an opportunity to contribute financially, members feel valued, and do not experience the stigma associated with visiting foodbanks. Additionally, the Pantry model serves as a springboard to other initiatives within the community. Volunteering within the Pantry will give people the opportunities to gain valuable experience, build confidence and forge relationships in the Leith community. The Pantry can signpost members to other groups and supports in Leith such as debt advice, housing support or leisure opportunities. All this can strengthen the community, improve health and wellbeing by building dignity and choice by helping to reduce the stress of cost of living. Leith Pantry would use the funds to buy food to stock the Pantry and an additional display freezer to ensure those individuals and families who are struggling week in week out to have the opportunity to buy good quality foods. We would also use the funds to help fund the wrap around support service. This service offers additional support to members by listening and signposting them to other agencies within Leith.

Friends of Seaview

The children at Seaview have a wide range of neurological conditions including severe health and behavioural problems and are mostly wheelchair users. The linchpin of Friends of Seaview is their therapeutic gardener who provides weekly tailored therapeutic sessions for the children in the garden. It is well researched that being outside and gardening can improve mental and physical well being. Many of the children do not have access to gardens and can find public parks unsuitable for them due to some of the children's disabilities and challenging behaviours, parks can be busy and some of the children don’t cope well in that environment. Seaview garden is tailored specifically for the children's needs with accessible paths, play equipment etc. What will the funds be used for? Their gardener has created a fruit corner at the garden however many of their fruit bushes are now old and not providing much fruit anymore. Fruit is a fantastic treat for the children in the garden as it is something most children can enjoy straight from the garden without having to cook so gives immediate rewards. This can help entice children out into the garden where they can benefit from being outdoors. They would like to buy blueberry, currant, raspberry and strawberry plants and two plum trees. They also need compost for these plants.

Bridges Project

Founded in 1984, Bridges Project is a local charity which helps 400-500 disadvantaged, disengaged and isolated young people aged 12-25 in East Lothian and Midlothian annually to manage the transition from adolescence to young adulthood and life beyond school. Their purpose is to assist young people to make a safe transition to adult responsibilities, including independent living, employment, further education and training. Funding would contribute to further develop their 'Get Connected' initiative, which will assist disadvantaged young people with educational attainment, employability, and digital inclusion. Get Connected will enable young people to: 1) Obtain digital access and skills, 2) Access vital online services, 3) Make online applications for housing, Universal Credit, college, jobs, and other day-to-day online applications, 4) Take part in digital-based learning programs, and 4) Develop digital content creation skills.

People Know How

People Know How is a Scottish social innovation charity with a passion for solving social issues. Based in Edinburgh and the Lothians, they work with all parts of the community including children, young people, adults, and the elderly. Their core services are Positive Transitions (PT) and Reconnect. Reconnect provides support to adults and families in Edinburgh and the Lothians to help them improve wellbeing by increasing digital and social inclusion. Positive Transitions supports children, young people, and their families through the transition from primary to secondary school, helping them feel valued and understood, improve their self-esteem, and peer relationships, and enable them to fulfil their potential. What will the funds be used for? They want to address the negative issues the school holidays cause to the children, young people, and families they support during term time. Participating in the Summer Holiday Programme will be an opportunity for kids transitioning from Primary to Secondary school to develop new friendships that will help them when they start secondary school. The families that they work with have been particularly impacted by the pandemic and cost of living crisis. They want to ensure that the children and young people still get to have fun and try new activities and experiences during the summer holidays that they would otherwise miss out on.

Tartan Talkers

Tartan Talkers aim to raise awareness and prevention of male suicide. Over 800 men die from suicide every year in Scotland. They provide practical and emotional support to men in crisis. They use the peer to peer (lived experience) model but the staff are all trained in suicide awareness. They've been open for approximately 8 months and have helped over 86 people who were in crisis. The £500 donation will help them buy 250 cardboard wallets for CDs of an anthem about mental health that they wrote to Highland Cathedral played by a pipe band, sung by local singer, Emma Anstruther, and Rugby choir from Linlithgow (and hopefully chorus by the Proclaimers). This CD will help raise awareness of mental health and funds to continue their important work with those in need.

Gorebridge Parish Church

The purpose of the Church for this event is to provide a week's activities for children finishing P7 up to including S6 high school pupils. It is a non-residential camp which runs Monday to Friday 1pm until 8pm. The young people will have choice of activities each day and receive a meal in the evening where they will have an opportunity to listen to motivational speakers, dance and sing with the Church band. This is open to young people throughout Midlothian and South Edinburgh (Liberton). This event is completely free for the young people. The funding is being requested to purchase food, craft materials like stage arts, games materials and the hire costs associated with hiring school buildings and fields for the outdoor activities. Evidence of previous years camps can be found on Gorebridge Parish Churches website under Youth section then summer tab. These activities are open to all young people within the age range. There are no staffing costs as the leaders are either Church staff or Volunteers.

DadsWork

DadsWork is a charity in East Lothian supporting dads and male care givers emotionally, practically and physically to engage and parent their children, developing and enriching stronger emotional relationships with their children through a variety of activities. Their activities aim to reduce male isolation, increase confidence, reducing depression and the risk of suicide as they have opportunities to engage with other families who have the same experiences, difficulties and can learn together. This will cover the cost of entry and transport for our families to attend the John Muir Alpaca Trek. This activity is outwith all our family's financial budget due to the cost-of-living crisis and they wouldn't have any available means to get there. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these families to experience an activity together with other men in the same position and gain confidence as they raise their self-esteem and receive peer support.

Neuroblastoma UK

Neuroblastoma UK is committed to find a cure neuroblastoma, a cancer that is almost always found in children. Neuroblastoma affects around 100 children each year in the UK, about 6% of the total number of childhood cancer diagnoses. It usually affects children under the age of five and can oETAr before a child is born. It is the second most common solid tumour in children after brain tumours. Every week in the UK, around two families will be told that their child has neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma UK is the leading neuroblastoma research charity in the UK, and they are dedicated to finding a cure for this dreadful disease. The £500 from Capital in the Community will help them continue to fund vital research into more effective and kinder treatments for neuroblastoma, and ultimately a cure.

Gorebridge Community Development Trust

Gorebridge Community Development Trust (GCDT) is a member led community organisation covering the geographical postcode area EH23. The Trust works across many aims and activities with the main aim to improve the life, work and social conditions of all residents within our area. This includes developing and delivering a range of long and short term projects. They will use this funding to support their Community Pantry. The pantry opened on the 28th June and is open to all households/residents of EH23, anyone who lives in this Post Code area can apply to become members of the Pantry and ‘shop’ there once a week. Since opening they have 300 members, with 80 (on average) shopping each week. Membership is free, and weekly ‘shop’ costs £3.50 which is put back into buying stock into the Pantry. Each member receives 10 credits for £3.50, and these credits can be used to ‘spend’ on fresh, ambient or store-cupboard ingredients. If available, free bread will be offered, and volunteers will make each member a bag of fresh fruit and veggies. Community Pantries are unique in that they are accessible to everyone, membership is free, they are perfectly placed to reduce the cost of food bills, stopping food going to waste and reaching landfill, and offer their community volunteering opportunities and a chance to come together.

Keep the Heid Mental Health Cafe

They provide a weekly opportunity for people affected by mental health issues to meet informally and share support with a facilitator in attendance. Meetings are held in the early evening in local venues, recognising that loneliness and isolation can be particularly difficult at this time of day. Currently, meetings are held in Haddington Tranent and North Berwick, with the potential to develop further in the future. These funds will be used to develop a website which will improve access and information for potential attendees. While we have produced leaflets and posters, and distributed them as widely as possible in the communities where we hold our cafes, we need to make our existence more widely known in East Lothian.

LEAD

LEAD is a recently established charity whose vision is to raise up and release leadership in young people to transform their world. They increase students’ integrity, self-awareness and courage through leadership courses delivered in the school day. LEAD provides a successful, creative and innovative service that no other charity in Scotland offers. They primarily deliver leadership training to schools in deprived areas in order to advance the education of young people living in financial disadvantage. They are seeking funding to update their video course that we run in schools. Specifically, to create a one-day taster session so that they can get more schools involved and make their course more diverse as currently they offer a 4-week course and then the odd tailored conference day. They believe it would benefit their charity but more importantly the schools to have a version of the course they could deliver in one day to better fit with school timetables. The funding would cover the resources needed to create this new one day session including workbooks and creating video content to pair alongside the workbooks.

Wallyford Livingroom Church

Their aim is to provide a friendly and warm place for adults, especially for those who are isolated, needing friendship and wanting a place to talk. The Art sessions are designed to explore their individual personalities and personal value, using verses inspired from the Bible, in a welcoming and caring environment, to promote self esteem and mutual support, with 2 art teachers experienced in a variety of artistic mediums, and one who has experience in using art in a therapeutic environment, and a team of other volunteers who will be preparing and serving soup and rolls after each session, and if anyone would like to stay for lunch there is a time to hear from someone who will speak about the Bible verses used, and how it has helped them in their own lives. The project is a first step for something longer term, to trial before the summer a method of working so that in the Autumn there can be a fully fledged ongoing group. The funding will help them to buy required Art materials, much of which would be able to be reused as the work continues.

Lead Scotland

Lead Scotland (Linking Education and Disability) is a national Scottish charity with a local-based and project focus, supporting disabled people and carers with personalised learning, befriending, advice, and information services. They support disabled people, carers or people experiencing multiple barriers to education to become adult learners, volunteers, workers, and community activists. They aim to reduce learning, health, social and employment inequalities by providing personalised, one-to-one and group services leaving no-one behind. They offer home learning for people who feel they have the fewest options or who lack the confidence or motivation to get started or realise their potential on their own. Lead Scotland build confidence and widen access to all types of learning including accredited qualifications. Through supporting the achievement of goals and smoothing transitions we strengthen communities, reducing feelings of social inequality, isolation, and loneliness. Their one-to-one work builds trusted relationships with individuals and families. Their policy work allows us to support disabled learners to have their voice heard, and their links and consultation helps influence national policy development to bring about effective change for disabled people. Lead Scotland run Scotland’s only national helpline and information service for disabled people and carers seeking guidance on accessing, and getting support while studying in, Further and Higher Education. They’re looking for funding to provide new devices for our learners, this will make a huge difference in their learning experience, as our current devices are being loaned out to learners. As technology plays a bigger role in education and future jobs, having up-to-date devices is essential. These tools will give their learners better access to digital resources, allowing for a more interactive and tailored approach for their learning. This will help them get ready for the tech-savvy world that we live in. By supporting them, we’ll help them close the digital gap and give more of their learners the chance to develop their skills.

CHAI

CHAI (Community Help & Advice initiative) supports and empowers people and communities across Edinburgh through free, confidential, high-quality, impartial advice, information and representation on welfare benefits, money, housing and employability. They have teams of advisers who work with local schools, early years centres, GP practices, Health Visitor teams, mental health recovery hubs and so on. CHAI would look to use this money to provide emergency cash grants to service users who find themselves in crisis. This is quite a common oETArrence and the usual emergency grants have greatly contracted in recent times, making this issue more and more difficult to deal with.

Home Start East Lothian

HSEL is a family befriending service - recruiting and training volunteers to support families within their own home with at least one child under the age of 5 years. They support families through groups within the community as well. At Christmas time they become the hub for new Christmas presents donated into East Lothian for families. Members of the public and businesses donate toys and gifts and those working with families can come and collect for the children. They have been doing this for 8 years in partnership with East Lothian Council. Last year they supported 680 children. A grant would allow us them to purchase presents for the gap ages - normally teenagers so they buy vouchers for cinema trips or clothing.