Local Groups
Beeslack Family Club
Beeslack Family Club has been running for over 30 years. Beeslack Family Club started as a Pilot Project in April 1985. The aim of the club is to provide a range of activities for “children and adults with additional support needs.” The club creates opportunities that enable members and their families to integrate socially, recreationally and educationally as well as providing a vital consistent space for families to take part in activities without restrictions.
Over the years we have expanded somewhat and currently we offer a variety of activities such as cookery, arts & crafts, woodwork, swimming, computers, music, TV, pool and coffee bar. We cater for all types of special needs, it doesn’t matter the degree of ability. Everyone is treated equal and we provide a fully supported environment where everyone can actively participate in the family members and friends to come and join you.
Beeslack Community High School,
Edinburgh Road,
Penicuik
EH26 0QF
01968 673893
The Breathe Easy Group
For people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A fully supported network by the British Lung Foundation. They support people with chest problems and instruct on methods to help ease the pain of breathing and breathlessness.
Contact George Worrell for more information Tel:
01875-823-323
Meet first Tuesday of every month at
MVA
4-6 White Hart Street,
Dalkeith
EH22 1AE
B r e a t h e E a s y
British Lung Foundation Supported Network
Bright Sparks
Bright Sparks Play Groups for children with additional support need in Midlothian based in Bonnyrigg, they support children from birth to 25 years with pre-school play groups, out of school clubs, school holiday club, sibling groups and lunch and play clubs.
Bright Sparks vision for the future is to continue to develop our family centre for play provision and their families. Bright Sparks will continue to build an increasingly diverse and responsive programme of activities, maximizing the use of our resources and assets, while maintaining our core ethos of family support.
King George V Park,
Bonnyrigg,
Midlothian, EH19 2AD
0131-663-5172
brightsparksplaygroups@aol.co.uk
brightsparkspg.org/
:twitter.com/brightsparks_pg
Café Connect
Café Connect, Dalkeith’s vibrant community Café run by Forward Mid (with generous support of Midlothian’s LAC Group) gives people with disabilities a chance to meet up to talk and listen. We all have different things to bring and our own stories.
Café Connect is a great place to find out useful information about a whole range of relevant supports and services eg
Welfare Reform, Access Issues, Self- Directed Support, or just turn up for a coffee, tea and cake on the house!
Equality — Diversity — Inclusion
It’s a friendly gathering where everyone is welcome. A place where you can listen in, or share your story!
When: Covid_19 has placed this group on hold until we work out how to meet safely.
Where: Café Connect
The venues to be confirmed as vulnarable people are included in this group.
For more information
0131 663 9471
Can Do
Can Do is a project run by Leonard Cheshire Disability, which enables people aged 16-35 who have a disability, mental health issue or long-term health condition to get involved in community volunteering. Can Do caters for all interests and abilities and can create bespoke projects for a one-off event or on a longer term basis. Volunteering will build your confidence and skills, and allow you meet new people and try new experiences in a fully supported environment while benefitting other groups of society. It is free to participate. Go on, you Can Do it!
As the country has moved into a new lockdown at the start of 2021, Can Do has moved most of the community activities that we usually run onto digital platforms – keeping people connected in a fun and engaging way.
What’s in it for you?
- Learn and develop new skills.
- Build self-confidence and independence.
- Meet new people and make new friends.
- Raise awareness on issues that are important to you.
For information on opportunities contact :
Louise Muir,
Can Do Programme Coordinator for Lothian
louise.muir@leonardcheshire.org
Tel:
07525 800 289.
www.leonardcheshire.org/cando
Connecting Midlothian Socially
Connecting Midlothian Socially in partnership with Midlothian LAC (Enable Scotland) and Thera Scotland.
Like to get out and meet new people, then come along to the CMS disco at the Mayfield Community Club on the 1st Friday of each month. Running from 19:00 hrs to 22:30 hrs. It is a great way to spend time with your friends and also make new friends.
For further information contact –
Stuart
07889 456 264 (Enable Scotland)
D-Café
The D-Café offers a friendly, supportive and stimulating environment for people with dementia and their carers. The Community Activities Organiser provides a range of engaging activities for people with dementia, as well as running a specific Carers Support Group from 13:00 hrs -14:00 hrs, during the Café.
The Café is a great opportunity to meet others in similar circumstances for advice, information and support and to make valuable social connections.
Lunch and refreshments are provided.
Held on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, from 12:00 hrs to 14:30 hrs.
Dalkeith Baptist Church,
8 North Wynd,
Dalkeith, EH22 1JE
0131 654 1114
Easy Does It
Does a bit of relaxation, hand and arm massage, gentle Tai Chi and music that inspires sound good to you? It did to some people who were looking for just that type of thing and helped develop Easy Does It!
The Easy Does It! Group is an inclusive group that aims to help show how exercise and relaxation can improve physical and mental well-being and gives people an opportunity to meet new faces.
Places become available occasionally, anyone who wants to find out more contact Catherine Acton Local Area Co-ordination Office
0131 454 1785.
Get2gether
Get2Gether believe that everyone has the right to love and friendship. We also believe that people meeting should be easy, fun and accessible.
Get2gether arrange social activities for people with disabilities in safe friendly places in Edinburgh and the Lothians, Ping Pong, Speed dating dancing and meals out.
Free Membership required over 18 only.
The Thistle Foundation,
13 Queen’s Walk,
Edinburgh, EH16 4AE
07867 179023
www.facebook.com/get2getherscotland/
Gorebridge Community Café
A welcoming place where people can again build the idea of real community spirit in “Gorebridge”. The café is staffed by local volunteers from Gorebridge, mostly from Mary’s Over 50’s forum, and welcomes all local residents. “We aim to be fully inclusive”, said Mary, “welcoming young people, older people, mums and children, disabled people and those who may feel isolated at home. We even hope to get some residents along from the nearby Newbyres local care home....What a difference it makes for an older person, who doesn’t have much going on in their week, for a bit of connection, a blether and sense of belonging over a cup of tea”. There is a small charge to cover costs.
The Café is open Fridays 10am till 12 noon. All welcome.
Gorebridge Parish Church Hall,
100 Hunterfield Road
Gorebridge
Midlothian
EH23 4TT
Mary Webb
01875 820 094
Lothian's Veterans’ Centre
Lothian's Veterans’ Centre was officially opened on November 15th 2014 by Col. Martin Gibson, Chief Executive of Veterans’ Scotland.
Our Origins
The charity was originally founded in July 2009 as The Mark Wright Project and was first located at Hardengreen Industrial Estate, Midlothian. The charity was designed to meet the need for a veterans drop-in centre with no appointment necessary allowing complex needs to be catered for in an environment which is familiar and friendly.
The LVC aims first and foremost, to create a welcoming & friendly environment, providing person-centred support for ex-service personnel and their families across Edinburgh and the Lothian's.
The continuous reassessments of our service delivery, highlighted a desire for a location more accessible to the veterans’ community, subsequently moving to the centre of Dalkeith in March 2013. This move has clearly proved popular as the numbers of Veterans’ just “dropping in” for a chat has increased significantly.
Our Partnership Working has increased ten-folds as a result of relocating. Key agencies including; Dalkeith Job Centre, Midlothian Council, Dalkeith Citizens Advice Bureau all recognise the importance of the LVC to ex-service personnel and can easily signpost without any lengthy referral processes and all within a stones throwing distance of our centre.
Lothian's Veterans’ Centre
11 Eskdaill court
Dalkeith,
EH22 3NX
www.lothiansveteranscentre.org.uk/
Tel:
0131-660-5537
contact@lothiansveteranscentre.org.uk
Midlothian Peoples Equality Group (MPEG)
MPEG is a registered charity. We are a friendly group of local people who have experience of, and aim to learn about and challenge, different forms of discrimination related to age, disability, gender, sexuality, ethnicity and socio-economic background.
MPEG is directed by a steering group of local people representing diverse local interests including kinship carers, disabled people, young people, older people, people from ethnic minorities and people from Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities.

Together We Aim To:
- Promote equality and challenge prejudice;
- Build relationships across Midlothian communities of interest where people feel valued and trusted;
- Provide a platform for Midlothian people to:
- Learn, educate, and communicate about local equality issues of concern and interest;
- Have a voice in local policy and planning.
Meetings:
We meet on the first Thursday of the month in Fairfield House in Dalkeith, 4.30 – 6.00 pm
www.midequalitygroup.co.uk/
0131 270 5695 for further details
SJKP Community Café
A Monday Café, from 09:30 hrs until 13:30 hrs.
SJKP Community Café was started with an independent grant on the premise to welcome visitors and friends.
As a non-profit Café all monies raised are used to bless the community by releasing donations to local charities sympathetic with Saint John’s & Kings Park Church aims.
The Café operate a suspended Coffee Scheme- Every coffee purchased another one is donated to someone who cannot afford it.
SJKP hope you enjoy the Community Café.
Pat Thorpe
31 Eskbank Road,
Dalkeith EH22 1HJ
0131 660 5871
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