Leith exhibition urges visitors to shop local as businesses severely under threat

A photographic exhibition which urges residents to support local businesses in Leith has launched in Ocean Terminal.

The exhibition highlights the shops and people behind them

The Leith Collective’s latest campaign WePersevere highlights some of the small shops and services that continue to serve the Leith community in the face of Covid-19 restrictions and the disruption caused by the ongoing tram works.

Sara Thomson, photographer and owner of The Leith Collective has captured images of the shopkeepers, business owners and sales assistants who are determined to stay positive, battle through and help each other out in a time where they need it most.

Sara said: “I’m a Leither, I’ve grown up here and I’ve seen businesses in the area, ones that have been here for years and ones that I have grown up with struggling, who are at threat of closing down.

Local businesses are struggling due to Covid-19 restrictions as well as the tram works

“The idea for WePersevere came as I was thinking about how I can help my community. Because I’m a photographer I thought that the thing I could do was take photographs and highlight these businesses and the people behind them.”

To create the exhibition Sara visited independent shops in Leith took a portrait of the owner and a photo outside and has created a map to show where each shop is located and how to get there.

“I just wanted to help by spreading awareness that they’re still open, they’re still there and you can still access them.

“Many of the shops people have memories of and the people who own the shops are just hoping that they’ll survive this, they’re really struggling.”

A map and how to get to each shop will urge visitors to shop local to ensure the businesses survival

The exhibition is located within Ocean Terminal, opposite Charlie Miller at The Leith Collective and it is expected to be on display until the end of January, however this is subject to change.

“When I spoke to people in their businesses, I realised that they were just so grateful or people thinking about them,” Sara added, “They’re worried about the future, many are family businesses who hope to pass them on, if they shut down it is a generation of jobs lost.

“If we don’t use it, we’re going to lose it.”

The Leith Collective is also supporting the Cats Protection League in Leith and are accepting donations of toys, beds, and accessories which are is reasonable condition to donate to the local charity.

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