ALL the news from
THE good place to be!
Don't miss out! SIGN UP to our newsletter TODAY

Team Tumble have signed up for the Inflatable 5K to support our essential work with Edinburgh’s most vulnerable

Discover GCP’s Summer Issue 2026 — filled with community stories, events, voices and ways to get involved. Celebrate new beginnings and create more memories with us.

Volunteer with our Tuesday Make and Mend groups, an opportunity to create, learn new skills and have some fun

Discover GCP’s Spring Issue 2026 — filled with community stories, events, voices and ways to get involved. Celebrate new beginnings and create more memories with us.

The Grassmarket Mission closes, transferring its legacy to the Grassmarket Community Project. GCP will continue supporting Edinburgh’s most marginalised, ensuring the Mission’s vision and impact endure for future generations

To inspire you to support our essential work, here are 12 ways to make a difference!

GCP’s 2025 Impact Report gives an overview of ALL that we do, with great photos and stats to demonstrate our positive impact

Look no further, we have the perfect space and the perfect team for your festive fun…

Our Summer Showcase dazzled with member talent — a joyful evening welcoming the public to celebrate creativity and connection.

Welcome (back) to Carlie. We would like to extend a big GCP welcome!

Last week, we held our very first Staff Awards here at the Grassmarket Community Project — and what a special evening it was! We’re incredibly proud of the brilliant team we have, and we wanted to take a moment to shine a spotlight on those who go above and beyond every day.

Grassmarket Community Project – Poetry from the heart, our very first published poetry collection.

Meet Natalie, our summer intern! We would like to extend a big GCP welcome!

Calum enjoys the community at GCP. ‘It’s a really great place where people come and meet others and through activities get a sense of achievement and through skill-building, they improve their quality of life.’ 

Participating in the parade marked a milestone for the Project. It was about showing how inclusive and evolving our national identity really is.

From painting walls to creating digital opportunities, eKal Solutions partnership with GCP is building skills and strengthening community ties

Bad Boy Barbers are GCP’s neighbours on Candlemaker Row. Like all good neighbours, the relationship works for both of us.

Our first Coffee House Gig was a heart-warming celebration of creativity, bringing our community together to support and inspire one another

Elizabeth has found strength and peace in our GCP community, where she feels she can be herself.

All aboard! We’re ready to launch this April in Newhaven, as the main highlight of the Seafaring Spirit festival.

This April, GCP welcomes Rob Trimble as the new Chair, whilst Richard Frazer takes on the role of Founder

Reflections from Richard, our Founder. The development of the GCP has been a humbling experience over the past 22 years

‘I can join in anything here…’ Lee Ann is one of our many inspiring Members, she has been coming to GCP for over two years

Meet our CEO, Helene van der Ploeg. This month we invite you to celebrate the women of GCP and get to know our CEO Helene

A rewarding and FUN way to support GCP, sign up to a fundraising challenge. Here are a few suggestions, OR contact us with your own ideas!

GCP are bowled over to be Murrayfield Indoor Sports Club’s 2025 charity partner!

Social good with shared good vibes! Another great story from another very happy client of our Grassmarket event services

As GCP’s Learning and Development Coordinator, Jen plays a key role within the Members Services team.

Meet Megan, she loved her placement at GCP so much, she’s now back with us a volunteer!

Please take two minutes to tell us what you think, so we can do everything we can to make our charity all that it can be. Thank you

GCP’s 2024 Impact Report gives an overview of ALL that we do, with great photos and stats to demonstrate our positive impact

The world-famous Edinburgh International Book Festival chooses Grassmarket Event Hire Services. It’s a relationship that speaks volumes!

Cooking up a great relationship with the School of Divinity!

Edinburgh Uni gets crafty with Greyfriars Tartan. GCP is well-known for developing inspiring relationships with like-minded partners!

Look no further, we have the perfect space and the perfect team for your festive fun…

To inspire you to support our essential work, here are 12 ways to make a difference!

Getting to grips with numbers! Numeracy improves life outcomes, such as employment and even our physical health…

Where better to celebrate St Andrew’s Night than in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Join us for an exceptional event with everyone’s favourite Scottish antiques expert and TV personality

Meet our good friend, Judith, the John Lewis Coffee Saint

Picture this! Eleven Members of GCP enjoying their own private tour of the National Galleries of Scotland.

Grassmarket Community Picture House announces an exciting new partnership with the Edinburgh Film Guild.

Meet our fabulous Community Cinema team of film buffs

You may have heard we’re building a boat here at GCP. And, you can help. Here’s how…

THU 18 JUL Join us for our Summer Showcase, as we open our doors to celebrate the creativity and diversity of our community

Yes, we’re building a boat thanks to funders including HSBC, Edinburgh Airport and John Lewis.

‘If you can build a boat, you can build anything!’ ALL aboard for the latest update…

Volunteering plays an essential role in the continued success of GCP. Find out how you can help change lives

Meet David and Mike. People come to GCP for many different reasons. Social Isolation, however, is a common thread.

Social poverty and connection. In the second of our Essential GCP series, we talk about social poverty

Kevin, our Volunteer Manager, has being shortlisted for the SCVO Awards for Employee of the Year. You can VOTE KEVIN too!

Greyfriars Tartan at Tartan Week – an important opportunity to build on the success of this much-loved brand

Free haircuts at GCP, thanks to new partners, Inky and the Man

GCP, are we a charity or are we a social enterprise? We’re both, and much more besides! Enjoy our Social Enterprise story…

It’s spring and the swifts will soon be here. Here’s a story of an exceptional creative project and three special swifts who are here to stay

Commission custom woodwork and bespoke furniture from our award-winning Social Enterprise wood workshop

Meet Alex, our new Hospitality and Events Manager. Regular customers at Coffee Saints will already recognise Alex’s smiling face…

David has been a member since 2023, ‘I was surprised at the various activities and the breadth of people who use the service.’

Members lunches are THE most important part of our day for many reasons. For some, it is the only meal of the day

Food poverty and food as a basic human right. Discover more about GCP’s essential work and social purpose

An exciting, new partnership with the Edinburgh Futures Institute and GCP’s Wood Workshop

GCP is looking for a committed and motivated Learning & Development Coordinator to support and deliver our programmes

Local walking tours are THE best way to explore the extraordinary history of our neighbourhood. Thank you, Mercat Tours.

Every week day, a fantastic mix of classes to boost your practical and creative skills. Plus social events and a chance to catch up

We’re delighted Phoenix Group chose to spend a Corporate Volunteering day with GCP

HSBC Corporate Volunteers in action, once again showing the team is cut out for the job!

GCP is looking for a committed and motivated Finance Manager, can you help?

TSB is committed to being neighbourly. Find out more about our blossoming relationship.

To inspire you to support our essential work, we are sharing 12 Days of GCP. In other words, 12 great reasons to give!

Hot off the press! This year’s Social Impact Report gives an overview of our Member Services and so much more

GCP needed urgent help! Our friends and Super Fans HSBC came to the rescue. Find out how…

Book your 2024 meetings and conferences with us! AND take advantage of our Winter Meeting Room rates.

It’s our AGM, time to celebrate all things GCP! Book your seats for drinks, nibbles and our AGM, followed by a special film screening

Our Community Music Group is a new addition to GCP’s Members Programme. Run by University of Edinburgh music students, it’s attracting great interest!

Huge congratulations to Janie, our Tartan Workshop volunteer, winner of the prestigious Social Enterprise Volunteer Champion Award 2023

Where do you take a team of Tartan Workshop volunteers for a treat? The V&A’s spectacular Tartan Exhibition, of course!

Meet Stephen, he is a great ambassador for GCP’s Pre-apprenticeship Programme. To help inspire others he shares his experience

Join us for an Afternoon Tea Dance on Wed 22 Nov 2-5pm. Coffee Saints alongside St James Quarter is THE perfect place for this lovely event.

Painting pictures with words, Creative Writing is a very popular Members group, it is a relaxed and safe place to explore and express

Sponsor Team GCP Kiltwalkers TODAY to support the essential work we do. Take a minute to make a lasting difference. Thank you

GCP’s popular Reading and Writing Group builds the confidence of Members who wish to improve their literacy levels.

Join us for a unique evening of enchanting live music from Phamie Gow at Greyfriars Kirk to help raise vital funds for GCP

There is growing interest in bespoke tartan commissions, as well as the ever-popular range made by our fabulous Tartan Social Enterprise.

Wherever our Members are, they can take a coffee break with Tommy online! Another popular highlight of our Members Online Programme.

Flow Learning offers industry-recognised short courses, it is also plays a key role in GCP’s Learning Hub.

Meet Louis, our summer intern! We would like to extend a big GCP welcome to him… but does he look familiar?

GCP’s Open Book Group is very popular with our Members. Our own story-catcher Caroline went along to see why…

Uh huh huh. Join us for a delicious 2 course dinner, then sit back, dance or sing along with the King of Rock n’ Roll.

As our wonderful relationship with John Lewis reaches this milestone, we explore its success and say THANK YOU.

It’s Showtime… nearly! Exciting updates, HOT off the press… Have you booked your FREE tickets yet?

We can’t wait for Saturday 24 June! It’s GCP’s debut at Edinburgh Pride and our preparations are underway…

J.H. Campbell is a novelist, writer of short stories. James is also a much-loved volunteer here at GCP.

Meet Ewan Barry our photographer, as we celebrate our partnership and say a MASSIVE THANK YOU for his continued support.

For many years our Wood Workshop social enterprise has been taking regular commissions to handcraft these awards from recycled wood

Meet Kevin, our Volunteer Manager. He started here as a volunteer, fell in love with the place, and hasn’t looked back since!

Meet Frank, inspirational artist, member AND volunteer at The Grassmarket Community Project. We are so lucky to have him with us!

Sophie began volunteering with us, after seeing an advert to help support our Friday Art and Craft group. We’re SO glad she did!

It was a fun evening when 15 GCP volunteers and 5 staff went 10-pin bowling recently. In fact the evening was considered ‘a roaring success’

Meet Liz, our award-winning volunteer. We asked her more about her life and why she loves volunteering with GCP…

Happy 1st Birthday to Our Stories, Your City. We are celebrating a key milestone for our wonderful project with Mercat Tours…

Anne volunteers with The Grassmarket Community Project choir. She’s brilliant and we really appreciate her support.

Meet Mustapha, he volunteers with the Woodwork Group at The Grassmarket Community Project and he loves it! Find out why…

Meet Michael, an experienced volunteer who supports the members and team at The Grassmarket Community Project in many ways.

YES, DANCE WORKSHOPS here at GCP!! An exciting NEW partnership with Dance Base. We’re dancing with joy, literally!

One question and a desire to help others sparked Lee’s creativity at The Grassmarket Community Project

In our Guitar Group ‘We let the music rule!’ You only need three chords to join in the jamming session.

A picture paints a thousand words… Members come along to our Art Group to relax and let their creative spirit run free

We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Helene van der Ploeg as our new CEO of The Grassmarket Community Project