Enter ETL Retrofixers, who bring neighbours in North-East Edinburgh together to build knowledge and practical skills about DIY retrofit measures, while fostering collective power for community climate action to save energy, money and the planet all at the same time.

The Retrofixers have just received support from the SafeDeposits Scotland Community Fund to kick-start their community-led retrofit project, which will offer practical support for households facing fuel poverty to make their homes more energy efficient, while upskilling groups of volunteers to carry out community-led retrofit projects which will cut carbon, nurture sustainable neighbourhoods and enhance community cohesion.

Activities will encompass hands-on draught-proofing training sessions for volunteers to equip them with the expertise to lead further retrofit projects in the community; as well as a series of draught-proofing sessions in households facing fuel poverty. The volunteer-led retrofit collective will help vulnerable households by implementing DIY draught-proofing measures. Through connecting skilled people with volunteers and households - and supporting people to negotiate the barriers collectively - the project will not only significantly reduce carbon emissions from home energy use, but will also have a positive impact on health and wellbeing.

For further information on Edinburgh Tool Library visit www.edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk

Currently autistic people have one of the lowest rates of employment, even amongst other disability groups.  Highland One Stop Shop already provides free employment support to autistic adults who are struggling to enter the labour market.  However due to demand, people are presently restricted to a set number of one-hour support appointments.

SafeDeposits Scotland Community Fund support will enable Highland One Stop Shop to pilot an initiative whereby 20 beneficiaries will receive the support they need to materially improve their employability.

Highland One Stop Shop Manager, Gill MacLennan, said: “This small pilot will help around 20 autistic people in Highland overcome multiple barriers to employment and make a significant difference to their lives and future independence.  We would like to thank the SafeDeposits Scotland Community Fund for investing in the futures of autistic people in Highland.”

For more information about Highland One Stop Shop please contact: Highland One Stop Shop, 1/1A Friars Street, Inverness IV1 1RJ or call them on 01463 717649

Chair of Bridgend Farmhouse, John Knox, commented: "As a result of this generous award we will be able to provide 30 young people with the opportunity to come and learn new skills in our bike workshop with tuition provided by our qualified bike mechanics. It is a great way to build confidence and learning."

We are grateful to have received £1,961 to update our Augmentive and Alternative Communication (AAC) technology, as well as replacing equipment used to adapt technology for play.

Specialist adaptive technology gives people with cerebral palsy greater opportunities to operate toys and equipment on their own, helping them to independently enjoy games and conversation and promote wellbeing, confidence and positive mental health.

Our specialist occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists work collaboratively in sessions to help children and adults learn about communication devices and adaptive technology, empowering them to both communicate and play.

In these sessions, individuals and families are able to try out different technology with our specialists, and work out which methods work best for them before investing in them at home.

Being able to engage with activities, as well as operating toys and equipment alone, can have a hugely positive impact on a person with cerebral palsy, helping them to achieve their goals and unlock new opportunities.

As the only cerebral palsy charity in Scotland, we are immensely grateful for the support of SafeDeposits Scotland. This grant will power our work, helping individuals with cerebral palsy to reach their full potential.

For further information, visit Cerebral Palsy Scotland

This year's event features 81 artists in 43 venues and will transform Abbeyhill into a unique gallery for the weekend.

The Abbeyhill Colonies, close to the top of Easter Road, were built by railway workers in the late 19th Century after a working hours dispute saw them locked out of their building site. During the three month dispute in 1861, local tradesmen formed The Edinburgh Co-operative Building Company and by 1911 built over 2,000 houses on 11 sites in the city.

That sense of community was reignited in 2005 when the inaugural Colony of Artists exhibition brought the artists of the area together for the first ever event of its kind in Edinburgh.

The Colony of Artists show work from their own homes and gardens which allows visitors to experience their work in a very personal setting. The event has grown year by year with over 7,000 attending in 2022 from all over Edinburgh and beyond.

The 18th Annual Colony of Artists Exhibition will showcase the past and present of this vibrant community in their biggest exhibition yet. Some of the major highlights are:

• Free short walking tours which are a chance to discover the history behind some of the area's many bright and colourful murals designed by the COA Artist Collective "The Murally People" as well as an opportunity to learn more about the history of the Abbeyhill Colonies.
• Abbeyhill Primary School and the Colony of Artists mark a significant milestone in 2023. Since 2008 the doors of the Abbeyhill Primary School have been opened for the festival weekend in order to showcase the talents of a new generation of artists. The school will host a special Colony of Artists Garden pARTy at the school playground on 15th September 2023 from 12.30pm to 3.30pm to celebrate.
• The dedicated festival hub, The Hive, will be humming to the tunes coming from a wide variety of local musicians along with a pop up bar hosted by Campervan Brewery and food from the Safari Lounge.
• And last but not least visit 81 Exhibiting Artists showcasing their work within their own homes and gardens throughout the Abbeyhill Colonies.

For further information, visit Colony of Artists

The assembled audience was asked to vote on how a funding pot of £4,500, donated by the SafeDeposits Scotland Community Fund, should be awarded to the three projects. Having received the most votes, the STEAM Club received the highest available grant on the night however the other two projects also received funding. South West Kinship Care and Stables Studio were each presented with a cheque for £1,000.

The STEAM Club enables young people aged seven to 13 to learn new skills and nurture their creative talent in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. With the funding received at Lintel Soup, the club will secure new equipment to make its already popular 3D printing programme more accessible to young people in the local community.

Alan Partridge, Marketing Manager at SafeDeposits Scotland, said: "The STEAM Club, South West Kinship Care and Stables Studio all truly embody the spirit of inclusion within their respective communities. Social and digital inclusion are among the opportunities we sought to champion when we launched our Community Fund earlier this year and we are delighted to be supporting these three fantastic projects. At Lintel Soup my colleagues and I had the privilege of meeting people who operate and use the initiatives, and to hear first hand of their experiences and the difference that projects like these make."