Work underway on purpose-built health and wellbeing charity centre in Craigmillar

The new purpose-built 1500 square metres centre is being built on the site of a disused clinic at the heart of the old Thistle estate in Craigmillar and is set to open its doors in early 2016.

It will contain tailored training and consultation rooms, a gym and a community hub on the ground floor, with Thistle’s head office occupying the first floor of the building.

Every year Thistle directly supports hundreds of people with long term conditions – from physical disabilities to diabetes and depression - through mindfulness, Tai Chi, pilates and lifestyle management courses that focus on exercise and nutrition and support to live independently.

The new facility will allow the charity to support more people in more ways.

Calum Murray, director of CCG, said: “We are proud to be working with this local charity to help them build a modern facility that is tailored to their users needs. The centre is being carefully constructed on the grounds of the original site which is now a local conservation area.”

Thistle Foundation is a health and wellbeing charity with a 70-year history of supporting people with long-term conditions, including disabilities.

The charity was set up in 1944 in Craigmillar and was innovative in its approach to housing and supporting disabled veterans and their families.

Diana Noel Paton, chief executive of Thistle said: “Thistle is extremely excited about this next chapter in our history of helping people to live a good life whatever that means to them. The Centre will be in the heart of the community where we work.

“The new facility will help us continue to support people to live the life they want. It is hugely important to us to keep our historical links and connections with the estate and the community – and the new centre will ensure we can support the regeneration and growth of the wider area as well.”

The Tudsbery Centre is CCG’s second project in Craigmillar’s regeneration programme after recently starting work on a 66 unit residential development on the grounds of the former Niddrie Mill Primary School.