A mural has been commissioned to honour the work of the Dove Centre in Wester Hailes

A mural depicting the wonderful work of the Dove centre in Wester Hailes has been commissioned as part of a Big Lottery Community Fund project run by WHALE arts.

The Dove centre distributing vital goods to Marion Robert's

The art work will be visible from Clovenstone Road and is hoped to bring deserved publicity for the centre that caters to the needs of older residents.As a project, its aims are to create a connection with residents and their own unique areas of Wester Hailes.

WHALE arts approached various organisations that had helped residents cope with a variety of issues that come with living in areas of deprivation and invited them to take part.

The Dove centre is a social day centre for residents in Wester Hailes and the surrounding areas that are over 50.To stave off isolation and loneliness they provide a variety of activities from dominos to Summer trips for their members. They also ensure fresh lunches are provided for all those who attend to battle the scourge of food poverty.The mural will be completed by artist Fraser Gray and will depict the work of the centre both before and during the pandemic.

Caroline Mckinna, 49, is manager of the centre and has worked there for almost twenty years.She said: “I’m so looking forward to being able to show everyone who is part of the centre. We were hoping to do a big unveiling once the mural was completed as a surprise to everyone involved but instead we will let them see it through the Evening News and will deliver a copy to everyone's door. I’m so looking forward to saying thank you to everyone who has been involved and I’m sure the mural will be treasured.”

During lockdown the centre provided about 3,000 meals to their service users and the same amount of activity packs to keep older residents ticking. They also carried out weekly check in support calls to see how everyone was doing.

Rebecca Green, 50, creative place making project lead at WHALE, said: “Hopefully this will make their centre more visible and give them the recognition they deserve. Their service users are not digitally connected and what Dove provides is so important in keeping residents feeling valued.”

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