People Know How are collaborating with Homes for Students to take up a new community space bringing together students and citizens in Craigentinny and Meadowbank in the new development, Straits Meadow.
Passers-by on London Road may have noticed a new student development opposite the Meadowbank Stadium. It is within this building, Straits Meadow, that we will be basing our new office, ensuring that development in the North East remains loyal to its community and drawing on experience of supporting the area for the last 8 years.
As People Know How has expanded over the last few years to support all of Edinburgh and East Lothian, we will be taking up these offices in addition to our current space at 525 Ferry Road, Musselburgh base, and our jointly owned canal boat, All Aboard, in Polwarth.
As part of our new Strategic Plan, over the next five years People Know How will work to nurture community cohesion and wellbeing as we recover from the pandemic through providing spaces for collaboration, making connections, sharing learning and exchanging ideas.
Supporting the local community
Being situated within a student development will allow us to encourage students to volunteer and support the community they live in. Here we will be in proximity to the local schools in which we run our Positive Transitions service, as well as the communities of Craigentinny, Lochend, Restalrig and Loganlea where we support many individuals through our Reconnect service.
The opportunities we’ll be able to offer students cover a wide range of themes and support – from becoming a befriender supporting a child or young person in a local school, to providing wellbeing and digital skills support to adults and families facing social and digital isolation, to participating in litter picks and community clean ups.
This new space will also allow us to strengthen our ties with universities throughout Edinburgh, in addition to the placements we provide for social work, art therapy, and occupational therapy students as well as internships in all our projects.
By working close to a student hub of activity, we will develop a reciprocal relationship of support between us, the community and the students who reside in the building, engaging them in the local area and supporting them through their time at university.
“We can’t wait to offer our wide range of volunteering opportunities to student tenants. Our space will be open for all visitors interested in finding out more about People Know How, our services, and how to get involved with the local community. I look forward to speaking with the students to identify how we can support them as much as they support us through their volunteering, tailor making each experience to ensure their goals are met.”
Influencing policy
Over the last year we have also expanded our reach to maximise social impact through social innovation as a catalyst for policy and systems change. We have done this through initiatives such as our national Connectivity Now campaign to end data poverty, and our current action-research project with the University of Edinburgh to improve positive school transitions across all of Scotland. This new location will give us proximity to the Scottish Parliament, as we engage routinely in cross-party working groups and engage with policy makers.
Open house
We have begun our move into Straits Meadow alongside its new student residents, and are now planning an open house event hosted jointly by People Know How and Homes for Students! On 18 January local organisations, community groups and individuals are invited to come along and take a look at this new community asset. You can book onto one of our 30 minute slots to attend the open house using the link below.
We would like to thank HG Developments Ltd., Thornton Solicitors, Clark Contracts, Orbit, the Community Council and local councillors for making this possible.