Newhaven's beating heart

Rodney Matthews, Chair and Vision Facilitator, of The

Heart of Newhaven Community SCIO, has welcomed the City of Edinburgh Council's approval for the purchase of Victoria Primary School under the Community

Asset Transfer Process of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

He said: "We now have to raise the required funding to meet the capital cost of £700,000 plus the ongoing demands of adapting the buildings on the site to develop our three themes of Culture and Heritage, Learning and Enterprise, and the health issues of personal Well-being.

"All are affected by the changed circumstances we are facing through the unprecedented challenge of a global pandemic.

"Much has happened since our new organisation began less than two years ago, especially over the past six months.

"Yet we would not be able to claim this site as our beating pulse of energy to engage everyone if we were not equal to every demand and ahead of the curve with our plans.

"Many voluntary and commercial partners have recently re-affirmed their commitment.

"New enterprises are joining, offering even greater commitment. We have made energetic contact with individual families by recently delivering postcards to over 7,000 households.

"Interest grows as we now apply to the Scottish Land Fund to help meet capital costs and look to charitable funders and a spectrum of others to cover repair and renewal costs and ensure ongoing viability. We are adapting with the art of the possible.

"The Council has acknowledged that what we are doing is of considerable benefit to those most in need and the sustainability of the environment for the future.

"The faint-hearted would have given up by now.

"We are just getting the second wind of confidence as we move on to the next challenge. The Heart of Newhaven Community is beating steadily."