North East
Leith Wellbeing Services
Pilmeny and YMCA Edinburgh girls emotional and wellbeing group
Sometimes it can be good to talk to an adult and other people who are not in your family. They will listen to you and you can do something fun together. As you get to know them you can tell them abou your feelings, worries and things that are going on in your life. It is good to have different people in your life you can talk to. Our girls’ group is open to girls aged 9 to 16 years.
Sometimes it can be good to talk to an adult who is not in your family. They will listen to you and you can do something fun together. As you get to know them you can tell them about your feelings, worries and things that are going on in your life. It is good to have different people in your life you can talk to. For ages 7 to 16.
Pilmeny Development Project
The Pilmeny Development Project also provides 1:1 support to children aged 7-12 and their families in the Leith Walk area, who are experiencing mental health and wellbeing issues.
The Ripple Wellbeing group
Sometimes it can be good to talk with other people who are going though similar things to you, especially if you have lots of big feelings and worries. The Ripple wellbeing group is for 10 to 15 year olds and can you help to feel better and have more confidence dealing with life’s upsand downs. Whilst you are at your group an adult from home will get the opportunity to go to a group for adults
Most children who access these supports attend schools in Leith and the nearby surrounding areas like Trinity and Craigentinny.
Get an adult to get in touch with Pilmeny 07375918524, YMCA 0131 553 7877 or Ripple 0131 554 0422 to find out more.
Tinderbox
Tinderbox Feel Good music project is helping young people in North East Edinburgh express themselves through music!
Our musician in residence at Craigmillar Library is running weekly music sessions on Monday afternoons. We are offering instrumental lessons, drop in sessions and short courses. You can pick an instrument from the loan collection at Criagmillar library have a go at that or take part in creative music making sessions.
Contact Craigmillar library or contact jenny@tinderboxproject.co.uk for more information.
Portobello Busking Band is an exciting new group who have started playing together at Portobello Library from 4:30 - 6pm on Wednesday afternoons during term time. We’re learning to play songs that make us feel good as a group and working towards taking the music to the streets to spread good vibes in the neighbourhood! Ages 10 - 18.
Contact niki@tinderboxproject.co.uk for more info.
From grass-roots youth work to award-winning arts and music productions, Tinderbox Collective are a creative community of young people, musicians, artists and youth workers. Tinderbox aims to ignite a spark in people – one which fills them with confidence, imagination and sense of possibility, and which enables people to achieve things they never thought possible. Our work uses music and the arts to bring people together and strengthen communities, providing exciting opportunities that support young people to build their confidence, skills, self-esteem, and professional experience.
Visit the for more info.
North East Systemic Family Therapist
Systemic Family therapy is a time when families can talk and listen to each other to solve problems with the support of a family therapist. Sometimes, things can get tough at home, and it may feel confusing or upsetting. Family therapy helps everyone understand what's going on, understand each other's feelings and find ways to improve things together.
It can help with lots of things, like when someone feels really sad or angry, when there have been changes like moving house or your parents have split up, or when people just can’t get along.
Sessions are free for families in Edinburgh in the Portobello or Niddrie area with children aged 5 to 21years. Each session lasts about an hour each week. You can have sessions online or in person at
Northfield and Willowbrae Community Centre,10 Northfield Road, EH8 7PP
For more information contact the North East Systemic Family Therapist
Mal.Zbikowska@edinburgh.gov.uk
07730 287317
Community Counsellor
Sometimes it can be good to talk to an adult and other people who are not in your family. They will listen to you and you can do something fun together. As you get to know them you can tell them about your feelings, worries and things that are going on in your life.
It is good to have different people in your life you can talk to. The community counsellor offers support through primary schools in the Portobello and Niddrie areas.
Counselling can be helpful with things like;
- Worries and anxiety
- Bullying and friendships
- Getting on with people at home
- When someone dies
- Feeling sad, angry or other difficult feelings
Speak to your school to find out more about counselling support.
Outdoor Play Rangers sessions (5-13yrs)
These play sessions are free and fun. You can drop in and join in outdoor play activities. Games, construction tasks, messy and scrap play. Sessions are open to all.
Sessions normally run on Fridays at Brunstane School/ Magdalene Community Centre between 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm and also at Bingham Park between 3.15 pm and 5 pm. Sessions are on all year round except during the Christmas school holidays.
To find out more you can look at their
e-mail playrangers@smartplaynetwork.org
PlusOne Mentoring - YMCA
Sometimes it can feel like there is a lot of difficult things going on. Maybe you have been missing school, find things at home hard or are being encouraged by others to get involved in things you know you shouldn’t.
YMCA Edinburgh offers a mentoring service to young people (8 to 14 years) who live in North East Edinburgh and are feeling things are difficult in their home, school or where they live. They will match you with an adult who will meet with you one-on-one and offer you support
Visit the for more information or to make a request rebecca@ymcaedinburgh.com or 0131 553 7877
Young Carers
There are an estimated 29,000 young carers in Scotland. Being a young carer can mean different things to different people. Perhaps you might support a relative or a friend from time to time or be responsible for providing care for an adult at home for most of every week.
If you think you might be a young carer it can be helpful to speak to an adult you trust about it. If you aren’t sure if you are a young carer
If you are a young carer you are entitled to support. There are three young carer services in Edinburgh. They work together across the whole of Edinburgh and each service covers a different area. offers support in East Edinburgh including places like Leith, City Centre, Craigentinny, Duddingston, Portobello, Craigmillar, South Central, Liberton and Gilmerton.
Edinburgh Young Carers offers support for people aged 5鈥痶o 20 years old who care for or are affected by someone else at home - usually a parent, brother or sister. The person they care for may suffer from:鈥痟ealth problems or other problems like drug or alcohol misuse.鈥�
They can tell you more about the support they can give you and you can contact them at info@youngcarers.org.uk鈥� or 0131 475 2322
Lyra
Lyra runs a vibrant multi-arts programme, where children and young people from Greater Craigmillar can take part in FREE arts activities, learning skills in creative industries, music, dance, theatre and more!
With weekly workshops, theatre trips and chances to perform, Lyra’s projects bring children and young people together with arts professionals from Scotland and abroad to work side-by-side on world-class projects and productions.鈥�
Visit the for more information or contact by phone on
0131 659 4759
07517 773 780 or email
Pilmeny Development Project
| Group name | Information | Date & Place |
| Juniors Youth Group | Group for ages 5-9 years old. Activities include: Sports, Games, Art, Baking, Science, Xbox/Gaming, Cooking, Play, and Trips. | Wednesdays 4.30-6 pm, at 44 Buchanan Street, Leith, EH6 8RF. |
| Girls Group | Group for ages 8-12 years old. This group supports and empowers young girls. Activities include baking, cooking, sports, art workshops, 1:1 support and trips. | Thursdays 3.45-5.15 pm, at 44 Buchanan Street, Leith, EH6 8RF. |
| Mixed youth group | Group for ages 5-12 years old. This group is primarily focused on supporting Sikh Young people to have a safe space in the community to play. The group welcomes young people of all backgrounds. Activities include Sports, Games, Art, Baking, Science, Xbox/Gaming, Cooking, Play and Trips. | Fridays 1.30-3 pm, at 44 Buchanan Street, Leith, EH6 8RF |
Contact Nicola Hutchison Youth Development Worker at 0790 702 02 54 or email n.hutchison@pilmenydevelopmentpproject.co.uk for more details.
Visit the or pages for more information.
Starpic Project
Starpic Project delivers FREE youth work activities for various ages (p1-s4) in the Bingham, Niddrie and surrounding area. Great to build confidence, meet new people, learn new skills and have fun in a safe environment with Starpic Project’s dedicated staff team. The activities are fun, engaging and suggestions come from the young people.鈥�
For full information on the days, times and locations of these fantastic sessions visit online at the If you have any questions, you can find Starpic Project’s website on its
Venchie Children and Young People’s Project
Venchie Children and Young People’s Project run Breakfast Clubs, collecting children from home, arriving at Venchie for breakfast and then walking to school.鈥� In the afternoon, they run after-school groups where children come along, have a snack and play.
For more information visit or contact 0131 629 9546.