Polwarth Kirk On The Canal: A Place of Wholeness and Wellbeing The story so far… The Union Canal in Edinburgh runs for 16km between and through the communities of Ratho, Wester Hailes, Longstone, Craiglockhart, Merchiston, Polwarth and Tollcross, terminating at Fountainbridge in the city centre. The canal also passes Harrison Park, Meggetland and Hailes Park, and crosses over the Water of Leith via the 180m long Slateford Aqueduct. (https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/wp- content/uploads/2015/06/Edinburgh-Union-Canal-Strategy.pdf) Polwarth Parish Church enjoys a unique location on the banks of the Union Canal opposite Harrison Park. It has long been the community centre for Polwarth hosting concerts, parties, celebrations and exhibitions as well as services of worship, weddings, baptisms and funerals. More recently Polwarth Kirk’s tranquil interior with permanent labyrinth and its hospitable gardens have offered to the community a space for reflection and a source of wellbeing to busy lives through a programme of contemplative events. As the only live church on the Union Canal our goal is to become The Kirk on the Canal – A Place of Wholeness and Wellbeing. This project began in 2012 with our adoption from Scottish Waterways Trust of the canal bank adjacent to Polwarth Church. The ultimate aim was to have a narrowboat which would allow us to engage with the community in new ways. Our vision is to offer opportunities and experiences that promote wholeness and wellbeing and nurture community cohesion while celebrating the natural and cultural heritage of the 200 year old canal. In 2015, after obtaining permission from Scottish The (Canal) Strategy promotes the Canals, whose strategic plan included a Canal Hub at Harrison Park, a canal-side garden with patio was creation of seven Canal Hubs, each with created through an innovative partnership with The their own special character. These hubs Armed Forces Community Covenant Grant Scheme will become a focus for canal related and and the dedicated work of a group of armed forces' canalside developments including veterans. moorings, public realm and access improvements whilst protecting the natural and built environment and existing communities. The Edinburgh Union Canal Strategy: https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/wp- content/uploads/2015/06/Edinburgh-Union-Canal-Strategy.pdf The garden quickly became a place of peace enjoyed by many in the community including the families of armed forces’ personnel stationed locally and veterans who are encouraged to relax or potter in it. The second phase of our project further espoused The Union Canal Strategy of The City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Canals which designates Harrison Park as a canal hub. Working in partnership with Scottish Canals this phase saw the reinstatement in 2018 of a pontoon mooring on the Union Canal beside the Church. The pontoon has tie-up spaces for three narrowboats; two will be used by guests who may tie up for a short stay while the third space is reserved for Polwarth's boat. The pontoon was officially opened at the Edinburgh’s Canal Festival and Raft Race (http://www.edinburghcanalfestival.org.uk/) on 16th June 2018. Over 100 people from the community gathered to celebrate this exciting development. The mooring became a possibility when a member of Polwarth Parish Church, now in her nineties, remembered attending Sea Cadets as a young girl. The Cadets used a landing stage with boatshed beside Polwarth Church. Ishbel was able to produce a 60year-old photograph of the boatshed and landing. … the next chapter … With this memory to guide us and a keen sense of the difficulties and challenges facing young people today Polwarth Parish Church now wants to progress its vision to become The Kirk on The Canal – A Place of Wholeness and Wellbeing. We are seeking to fund the purchase and renovation of a previously loved narrowboat which will become a focus for youth engagement with the Union Canal. Beginning in this Year of Young People (http://yoyp2018.scot/) we aim to improve the wellbeing of those under 25 years of age by offering opportunities to develop both personal and practical skills focussed on the narrowboat and the natural and cultural heritage of the Union Canal and its conservation. While young people will be the primary beneficiaries we envisage that the activities and projects will significantly improve community cohesion. They will encourage all generations to join together to share some traditional skills and develop new ones while engaging with art, nature and culture. The Kirk with its labyrinth, canal-side gardens, patio, pontoon and narrowboat will offer the community a space for wholeness and wellbeing. The Polwarth Pontoon and Canal Garden is already the location of the first Canal Shed, hosted by Polwarth Parish Church in its busy Drennan Hall and currently run by Scottish Waterways Trust. Crafts and skills as well as the natural heritage of the Canal are explored and those attending are encouraged to share their passions and skills with others. The Shed which is currently developing into a social enterprise is open to men and women aged 18 years and over. Presently three Parent and Toddler Groups meet in the Church every week as well as a thriving Girl Guide company. Craiglockhart Primary School and George Watson’s College regularly make use of the buildings. Most recently the P6 children from George Watson’s Junior School spent a morning walking the labyrinth and reflecting on friendship. The congregation itself welcomes children and young people and celebrates their creativity. Harrison Park opposite the Polwarth Pontoon is a popular location for young people and families to enjoy sport and recreation. By City of Edinburgh Council From these foundations and using the narrowboat The Kirk on The Canal – A Place of Wholeness and Wellbeing will promote wellbeing, personal development and civic responsibility to the young people of this canal-side community and others residing in the city of Edinburgh. The project will build on a model of gathering, sharing, doing and celebrating to develop activities and opportunities that focus on young people while nurturing cohesion in their communities. Since its repair in 2001 by the Millennium Link project, the Union Canal has come from being a little known part of the city to one of the city's key assets. The canal is now enjoyed daily by people from across Edinburgh. The City of Edinburgh Council Moored at the Polwarth Pontoon the boat will travel the length of the Union Canal which will become the context for a variety of practical and skills-based learning. An holistic approach to wellbeing will be an important element of the project and there is much potential for arts and music projects as we develop new partnerships and deepen existing ones. The Union Canal is also a national asset; engagement with it and hands-on experience of a narrowboat would benefit young people from diverse situations so we envisage future development to include opportunities for partnership with youth work across Scotland. The Kirk on The Canal – A Place of Wholeness and Wellbeing is a unique project with corresponding challenges. The project’s task group needs to enlarge its skill base and a management board with employed Project Manager will be a necessary development. Meanwhile we continue to benefit from our ongoing partnership with Scottish Canals, and an offer from the social enterprise Re-Union Canal Boats Ltd of free skipper-training. Our project has caught the imagination of local narrowboat enthusiasts who are eager to help us with the sourcing, delivery and renovation of a canal boat whenever we have the funds in place. Be part of the story You can be part of this story by: Donating money to the Float The Boat fund. Donations can be made through the Donate Button on our website, by BACS to Polwarth Parish Church - Sort Code 80-02-28 Account 00387525, reference Boat. Cheques payable to Polwarth Parish Church can be sent to the Treasurer, Polwarth Parish Church, 36-38 Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh, EH11 1LU. Gift Aid forms are available. Contributing time and skills to the project either as an individual or as a partner organisation. Our partners and sponsors include: Hardies, Property and Construction Consultants; Robin Mutch, Chartered Surveyor; Marla F. Gomes, Landscape Architect; Davidson Stonework and Restoration Ltd; The Janelaw Trust; Fiona MacDonald; Ray Howie; Yvonne McEwen; The Canal Garden Preparation Team: Alan Forrester (Scottish Waterways Trust) Scott Gardiner and Stewart Laurie (Polwarth Church), Whitefoord House veterans; and The Steering Group. Telling the story of The Kirk on The Canal – A Place of Wholeness and Wellbeing on your social media channels and among friends and colleagues. To find out more visit www.polwarth.org.uk or contact the project by emailing [email protected]. Scottish Charity 004183 .