Two years in the making
A charity supporting adults with disabilities has completed a two-year long refurbishment of its facilities in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh.
Garvald Edinburgh marked the refurbishment as it sent off its latest shipment of tools and equipment to support adults with disabilities in Malawi.
The £750,000 refurbishment has seen members involved in the design process to ensure more modern and accessible facilities, helping create an environment in which members have had input in creating.
Garvald has 230 members across five sites, including Gorgie.
Despite the disruption of Covid and the building work, Gorgie’s “tools workshop” has seen the donation of a large shipment of equipment such as hand tools and sewing machines as part of the Tools and Training for Livelihood in Malawi project, run by Global Concerns Trust and funded by the Scottish Government. Garvald members are involved in the collection of tools as well as sorting and restoring them, ready for a new life in Malawi, using the skills the have gained
Garvald’s CEO, Mike Casey, said, “It was important our members are now able to fully access the support and creative activities they enjoy after our services were disrupted for so long. Opening our doors wide once again has allowed our members to re engage with their creative work which is so important. With the refurbishment of Gorgie they can now do this in a much improved space.
“Involving our members in planning the building refurbishment at Gorgie has allowed us to create an environment which is much lighter, brighter and much more accessible and one which I hope they feel very much part of creating. Being involved in the tools project means our members are able to make a positive contribution globally and feel a part of something special.
“By supporting members to develop craft skills such as weaving, pottery and woodwork; making beautiful hand crafted items for exhibitions or for sale in our shop, or working daily on deliveries to local shops from our bakery, members find their own place in the Garvald creative community and through this to the wider community.”
