Our Vision

Our vision is become the most loved community space in West Edinburgh because we are at the heart of building and supporting effective and valuable relationships and networks.

Our Mission

Our mission is to make West Edinburgh a better place to be. We are doing this by providing a space where people can meet, connect with each other, spend time together and support each other.

Our Values

We seek to create a culture where collaboration, generosity, inclusion, kindness, growth and hope are evident.

We believe that:

everyone has something they can offer and give to others.
communities are built one relationship at a time.
the world is a better place when the focus is on what is strong about people and places rather than what is wrong.

Trustees

smiling woman with curly hair and black top with a bookcase in the background.

woman with short hair and black glasses. beach and sea in the background

Moira McDonald (Chair)

woman with short white hair and large glasses.

Esther Elliott (Secretary)

woman with white short hair and glasses smiling. Wearing a light grey scarf and a grey top.

Liz Mackie (Treasurer)

Jane Walker

man with short dark hair and black glasses smiling. Wearing a black puffa jacket.

Ed Thornley

man with short grey hair and glasses smiling.

Andrew Bain

Members

Our members are really important in helping us understand community needs, in supporting us to be the best organisation we can be and in holding the trustees to account. If you would like to become a member please email:

info@gylecommunityspace.org.uk

History

Corstorphine Old Parish Church has offered the services of a Workplace Chaplain to Gyle Shopping Centre for many years. After the covid lockdowns of 2020 the Gyle Manager, Caroline McQueen, invited Esther the Chaplain to work in partnership to open a community space. We opened a previous Burger King restuarant as “Space To Be” on 8th March 2023.

Watch this video of our opening ceremony.

Two men stand chatting and holding a tripod of growing canes with a small tomato plant underneath.

During the rest of 2023 we worked hard at the relationships with community groups we already had and at building new ones. Over the summer we held a very successful tomato growing competition.

Large tomato plants lined up in a window with a watering can and spray in front of them.

In December of 2023 we won the 2023 Sceptre Award for Community Initiative of the year for Scotland & The North. The award recognises retail destinations which have made a positive impact on the local community.

In early 2024 we started working with Abandoned Artists to transform the old kitchen into an artists studio. This opened in October 2024.

small woman in a black dress and green tights stands giving a speech next to a dark door with a red ribbon across it. Next to that is a wall covered in foliage with an Artists Kitchen sign.

white desk and chair with yellow and grey piece of artwork on it.

Also in October 2024 we achieved status as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. after 18 months of learning we also rebranded and changed our name to Gyle Community Space.