Day 67
Pilmeny Development Project (PDP) has been operating in the Leith Walk/Leith Wards of Leith since 1979. It is managed by local residents and is funded by the City of Edinburgh Council and through its own fundraising efforts.
Many thanks to PDP Project Manager and Community Worker, Anne Munro, for providing today’s post and images.
It is hard to believe we have been providing services in Leith for over 42 years!!
We have seen so many changes over the years from housing in Lorne Ward (now Leith Walk Ward) with no hot water, baths or showers, demolition of our tenements, new build …… street festivals… Christmas parties for pensioners….play schemes for the kids and so much more!
PDP has remained a constant throughout, making a difference to the lives of local residents of all ages in this area. Our work with local older people, young people and adults has helped to transform lives.
In 2019/2020 more than 2,640 older and younger local residents, local groups, organisations and 85 volunteers were directly involved in PDP activities. In addition, PDP Older People’s Services Project supported 3,766 socially isolated local older people and carers and 188 Leith Timebank members provided much needed help and support.
Projects for Youth, Adults and Older People include youth clubs, intergenerational activities, holiday provisions for local children, Health & Wellbeing Projects for a range of ages, and a group for 'hard to reach' young people at risk of offending. We targeted the socially isolated, through the provision of 'information stations' and an 'in reach' service for housebound people. Coordinated the NE Locality multi agency event & Tea Dance at Hibs Football Stadium, and muchmore.
In 2019/20 a range of Partnership work was undertaken with many agencies including: Ageing Well, Living Memory Association, Citadel Youth Centre, YMCA, EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council), Inspiring Leith Project, CEC NE Edinburgh Locality Group, Lochend Neighbourhood Centre, Calton Welfare Services Project, MECOPP, Milan (SWO) and POLHA.
“I can now help others whereas before PDP I couldn’t even help myself”
“PDP showed me that time banking has far wider effects than just the immediate exchange,
it is like a stone being dropped in a pool of water and the effect rippling outward.”
“My elder brother had issues with mobility, suicidal and my GP suggested PDP. I came with him and I have never left.”
“I just wanted to say many thanks once again for the time you spent making arrangements for mum’s birthday get-together and the cake. Mum enjoyed herself thoroughly and it meant so much to her to see everyone again”
PDP would like to give our thanks to all the local residents in Leith with whom we have worked – without their time, effort and support (on a purely voluntary basis) the work of this Project would not be possible !!