We are excited to announce that we are the recent recipients of a 2024 National Lottery Community Fund grant!
We to use this opportunity to support the use of our basement space as a free community hub open to people, communities, and local groups. We hope to establish new friendships and strengthen existing relationships with small and grassroots organisations that struggle to find safe, accessible, and affordable spaces in Edinburgh. The grant funds will go directly towards maintaining the basement space, as well as funding improvements and providing a small amount of financial support to organisations who use the space. In addition, ESHC is planning a roster of upcoming events in the space that will be open to the wider community.
Stay tuned for exciting event announcements coming soon!
Want to learn more about how you can be involved? Or, are you interested in collaborating with us or using our space for your group? Email us at contact@eshc.coop.
We had our big 10th anniversary celebration in April. It was a weekend filled with lots of fun, good discussions and cooperative spirit! Several alumni came, along with special guests for our panel discussion on the future of housing coops, and a special ceilidh featuring our favorite ceilidh band, ESHC’s very own Piped Pipers. We also had some lovely internal workshops and events for current coopers and alumni as well, and it was great to catch up with everyone.
The weather was cooperative (!) for our annual group photo (now featured on the home page!)
It’s been a decade since the co-op was founded- time really flies! We have been busy planning events for this special occasion, and are excited to share it with you all.
Alumni of the coop? Sign up for the alumni newsletter here to get details on super-exclusive, member-and-alumni-only events and other cool updates.
Not an alumni? Worry not, we have events open to the public. Mark your calendars for April 6th, come along and celebrate our anniversary with us! You sign up for tickets for the panel discussion here and the ceilidh here.
READ ON TO SEE HOW WE’VE USED THE MONEY TO DEVELOP OUR SKILLS, WORK TOGETHER AND UPGRADE OUR ROOMS!
This grant has helped us renovate our old carpeted floors to wood laminate flooring, improving the living conditions for our members and providing opportunities for both members and friends of ESHC to learn with and from each other. Together, members measured the floors, removed the carpet, cut and laid underlay, and cut and fit the flooring. Members who had already renovated their floors were able to share knowledge and help out those who were new to this.
“[people] I encountered in the Co-op [were] amazingly helpful […] providing previous experience, giving advice, teaching new skills […] the task went from daunting to manageable and it was also a great opportunity to get to know other people in the Co-op”
– Benni, ESHC member
The old, expired carpet was a health hazard, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions. A survey we conducted found that up to 50 rooms in the co-op were still carpeted. Using the grant money, 11 more bedrooms and several hallways and kitchens have been renovated, with more in progress.
“I really enjoyed learning new skills while improving my friend’s flat. It is now much easier to keep clean.”
–Ruairidh, ESHC friend
Have a look at some of our before and afters…
This grant also helped us supply equipment for hosting community events such as book clubs, drag shows, and film screenings, paying for basic supplies like toilet rolls and cleaning supplies. We have been able to provide our spaces free of cost to other groups in our community who want to host events here, and the funding have helped us cover our costs.
“This has been a great opportunity to bond with my friends and family and for all of us to learn something useful. From applying to this grant to the funding it has provided to improve my and many others’ living situations.”
