Finding new funding for project transforming lives in Craigmillar - Donald Anderson
I’ve seen amazing work being done in Craigmillar in recent times, but one of the most impressive projects is ‘The Venchie’. The Children’s and Young People’s Project has become one of Craigmillar’s greatest successes and a powerful example of how local initiatives can transform opportunities for, and the lives of, young people.
The Venchie was created to provide safe outdoor play opportunities for children living in Craigmillar. What began as a local play project has transformed into a highly respected community organisation supporting generations of young people and families.
Many thousands of children from Craigmillar and surrounding communities have benefited from the opportunities provided by The Venchie. Many former participants have gone on to become volunteers, youth workers and community leaders, creating a legacy that extends far beyond the organisation itself.
The Venchie also plays a critical role in strengthening community cohesion. Through family events, volunteering opportunities and partnerships with schools and local organisations, it helps bring together residents from different backgrounds while supporting positive relationships across the community.
But The Venchie faces a huge challenge providing a high-quality service in a run-down building that just isn’t fit for purpose and costs an absolute fortune to heat. Susan Heron who runs the centre is amazing and has brought together a great team to draw up proposals to knock down the existing centre and build a brand-new building and ‘field of dreams’. Hopefully funding can soon be found to breathe new life into one of Craigmillar’s greatest successes.