Community Calling More Awesome Community Projects
Smart thinking, collaboration and a determination to bring a great idea to life are behind these inspiring initiatives
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COMMUNITY COMMUNITY
CHOIR GREENGROCER
THE COMMUNITY PLAY AREA
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COMMUNITY COMMUNITY
CAFE GARDEN
In these digitalised, distancing times, what better way is there to feel part of
something human than by singing your heart
out alongside like-
minded souls? The rise
of community choirs is evidence of this
When a supermarket bought out Peckham’s shop unit, the people of Bruntsi eld in Edinburgh didn’t just protest, they
got organised. Two hundred attended a public meeting about the takeover, and local
desire and Edinburgh shopkeeper Karen
boasts the biggest one in Britain. Since Mackay put together a team of volunteers
Described on their website as ‘the last
wild space in the West End’, The Children’s Wood on North Kelvin Meadow in Glasgow aims to provide kids with a safe, natural place to play outdoors.
It’s also a thriving cultural hub for the community: actor
Formerly known as Punjab’n De Rasoi, Punjabi Junction
is a Leith-based Indian cafe serving up home-cooked style Sikh cuisine
while simultaneously providing training, employment, social
inclusion and support
to local women
Tam Dean Burn and from ethnic minority
their formation in 2013, with the aim of
writer Sue Palmer are
the 300-strong Love Music Community
Choir rehearse weekly at the Usher Hall, led by composer Stephen
Deazley and jazz pianist Dave Milligan.
At the end of each term, the choir puts on a concert in that
prestigious venue and to date they’ve featured songs from the diverse
likes of Nick Cave, Puccini and Irving Berlin. Most excitingly of all, Love Music has l ashmobbed before gigs by Blondie and Rufus Wainwright. (Brian Donaldson)
opening a community greengrocers, named Dig-In, a short step from the interloper. A crowdfunding drive hit its £30,000 target in early April, and the shelves will be stocked
patrons, while past events have included storytelling sessions, i lm screenings, wine
tastings and visits
from Alasdair Gray, Liz Lochhead and Julia Donaldson. Sadly,
with fresh fruit and The Children’s Wood
veg – organically grown is currently under
and seasonal where possible – by the end of the month. In the meantime they’ve threat from housing development plans. Find out more and sign their petition at
been running veg bag thechildrenswood.com
trials and free soup (Niki Boyle)
Saturdays to tell people ■ thechildrenswood.com
what they’re up to while the shop gets
i tted out. (Hannah Ewan)
■ choir.lovemusic.org.uk ■ diginbruntsi eld.co.uk
backgrounds. In addition to the
food served on the premises, Punjabi Junction also offers cookery classes, free online recipes, outside catering, a speciality pickle and chutney deli
and a special Friday lunchtime delivery service to ofi ces in the capital. Oh, and while desserts are
not typically a strong point in Indian cuisine, their gajrela – a gooey, sticky carrot cake – is divine. (Niki Boyle) ■ punjabijunction.org
Four years ago, an innovative growing initiative sprung up on
a patch of industrial wasteland in north Glasgow. Despite the ground being contaminated and
unsuitable for growing, the organisers behind The Concrete Garden
managed to start a community project by planting fruit and
veg in huge, moveable
containers. The initiative now includes
a mobile orchard, a chicken coop and plans for a pedal- powered compost sifter. With regular
workshops, cookery courses, playgroups and social dinners also taking place,
The Concrete Garden is helping the local
residents of Possilpark i nd empowering ways
of accessing healthy food and building
relationships. (Gail Tolley)
■ facebook.com/ theconcretegarden
18 THE LIST 17 Apr–15 May 2014