SOCIAL, CIVIC & ECONOMIC VALUE
Community & social empowerment | Education & learning | Equality, diversity & inclusion | International engagement | Health & wellbeing | Older people | People with disabilities | Tourism | Young people
BUSINESS PARTNER BENEFITS
Business and/or brand name awareness | Corporate social responsibility (CSR) | Creative development | Developing community links | Enjoyment | Entertainment | Image enhancement | PR opportunities
The project
In 2021, the departure of Debenhams from Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre in Leith left almost 6,000 square metres of retail space empty. Ocean Terminal invited The Living Memory Association to devise and deliver a creative, community engagement project in return for in-kind sponsorship in the shape of rent-free use of the empty spaces.
Thanks to match-funding from the C&BS Fund, over the course of 2021 The Living Memory Association transformed the entire top floor into The Wee Hub – Where Big Things Happen, a home to a wealth of arts, music and dance based creative projects.
The partnership
Established in 1986 as a reminiscence project, The Living Memory Association gained charitable status in 2001. The charity was founded on the belief that reminiscence brings people together, regardless of their age or background. Ocean Terminal Opening in 2001 in a building designed by Sir Terence Conran, occupies a site between the ports of Newhaven and Leith.
The positive outcomes
In the first year, The Living Memory Association welcomed 120,000 people – a staggering increase in footfall. Just under 11,000 people have engaged directly with the charity with a further 10,000 engaged through PR and marketing activities. 21 new people started volunteering and the memories of over 200 people have been recorded and shared through podcasts and videos.
