John Swinney opens £2m Grassmarket homeless centre

A NEW £2 million centre for the homeless was being officially opened by Finance Secretary John Swinney today.

John Swinney: watchdog plans. Picture: TSPL

The Grassmarket Community Project’s new building in Candlemaker Row provides workshop, mentoring and teaching space, café and meeting rooms and a flexible community hall that can be used for theatre, conferences and other events.

The project, a joint venture between Greyfriars Kirk and the Grassmarket Mission, began 30 years ago with people from the church serving “parish meals”. Its activities now include the woodwork shop where former church pews are recycled into furniture.

Emma Galloway, who is at the helm of the project, said: “We seek to create a supportive, industrious, enterprising community where people’s gifts can be identified and they can enjoy success and purposeful activity.”