Regular Activities

We host over 50 activities each week.

For an up-to-date list of what’s coming up soon, visit our Upcoming Activities page, but the below shows the activities you can expect at The Heart on any given week.

From April 1st 2026, we will be asking for a contribution of £1 for all our Warm Welcome Community Activities (WWCA). Your contribution helps keep our buildings warm and help us to continue to put on the activities you love, and that help us support our community.

You can pay per visit, either:

  • £1 by cash or card

  • £10 by cash or card for an Activity Card (covers ten sessions)

If you have any questions please reach out to staff or volunteers (wearing a red lanyard).

Mondays

  • Love to Move: 10.30am - 12noon (WWCA)

    • Simple Seated Exercises set to Music. This activity is open to everyone who loves to move, and is designed to be Dementia-Inclusive. Feel free to drop in, work up an appetite and then attend our Monday Lunch Club.

  • Monday Lunch Club: 12:30noon - 1:30pm (WWCA)

    • Free lunch for anyone in the community. No need to book, but please be punctual, and please contact us if you have allergies or other requirements.

  • Repair Shed: 1:30pm - 4:30pm

    • The Men of Leith Men’s Shed run a Repair Shed during these hours. Drop in with your broken house-hold goods and they’ll take your details and contact you once it’s fixed. They’ll ask you to cover the cost of any parts, but otherwise the service is free (donations welcome).

Tuesdays

  • Culture Club: 12pm - 2pm

    • The Culture Club is a social club for people living with mild to moderate dementia. Two hours of creative fun, featuring films, music, song-writing, chair yoga and other activities. We provide teas, coffees, and a healthy bowl of soup. Places are limited so please contact us for a referral form.

  • Knit & Natter: 7:15pm - 8:30pm (WWCA)

    • A friendly group that come together a few times a week to enjoy knitting, a cuppa and a chat. Tea, coffee, biscuits are provided, but you’ll have to bring your own knitting.

Wednesdays

  • Warm Welcome: 9am - 12noon (WWCA)

    • We want everyone to find a place of belonging. Our Warm Welcome Space is an opportunity to make new friends and connect with the community. It all starts by coming along sharing a cuppa (maybe as you do another of our Wednesday morning activities).

  • ACE I.T. Digital Skills Session: 9:30am - 12noon

    • ACE I.T. is an Edinburgh charity which helps people over 50 to learn digital skills and get online. You can book an appointment or find out more, then come by the Heart to meet them – just call 0131 667 2053 or email info@aceit.org.uk.

  • AGE Scotland Drop-In Advice Session: 9:30am - 12noon

    • No one in Scotland should face the challenges of older age alone. A representative from AGE Scotland will be in our Dining Room on Wednesday mornings, if you have questions… come and ask them!

  • Knit & Natter: 10:30am - 12:30pm (WWCA)

    • A friendly group that come together a few times a week to enjoy knitting, a cuppa and a chat. Tea, coffee, biscuits are provided, but you have to bring your own knitting.

  • Heart Dementia Meeting Centre: 12noon - 2pm

    • Meeting Centres are clubs for adults who have a recent diagnosis of dementia or mild to moderate dementia. The first 4 sessions are free as we get to know each other and then we ask for a donation towards refreshments. Places are limited so please contact us for a referral form.

  • Repair Shed: 10am - 3pm

    • The Men of Leith Men’s Shed run a Repair Shed during these hours. Drop In with your broken house-hold goods and they’ll take your details and contact you once it’s fixed. They’ll ask you to cover the cost of any parts, but otherwise the service is free (donations welcome).

  • Cllr Katrina Faccenda, City of Edinburgh Council, Surgery: 5:30pm - 6:30pm

    • Councillor Katrina Faccenda of Edinburgh City Council will be at the Heart on the Third Wednesday of every month (except School Holidays). Drop in to discuss any questions you may have, no appointment necessary.

Fridays

  • Craft & Chat: 1pm - 3pm (WWCA)

    • Every second Friday of the month. A friendly group that come together a few times a week to enjoy crafting (bring your own projects!), a cuppa and a chat. Tea, coffee, biscuits are provided.

  • “Hear About…” Talks: 3pm - 5pm (WWCA)

    • Our “Hear About…” Talks feature members of the community (and beyond!) talking about their areas of expertise and passion. From MSPs to Royal Submarine Commanders, from kilt-makers to postcard-painters, we have a different speaker every week. Check our Upcoming Activities for more information about the next Friday talk.

Thursdays

  • Community Gardening Drop-In: 10:30am - 12:30pm

    • Join us every Thursday morning in the garden. We grow fruit & veg to support the Monday Lunch Club, and after the gardening session we normally gather in the dining room for a brew of herbs we grew ourselves. All equipment provided!

  • Sharing the Past: 10:30am - 12:30pm (WWCA)

    • On the last Thursday of the month, our Sharing the Past group meets to share memories and listen to each other. This gives members of the community the chance to revisit familiar times and share common experiences with other people, often using general prompts such as photos, objects, or music.

Saturdays

  • Warm Welcome: 9am - 12noon (WWCA)

    • We want everyone to find a place of belonging. Our Warm Welcome Space is an opportunity to make new friends and connect with the community. It all starts by coming along and sharing a cuppa.

  • Knit & Natter: 9:30am - 12noon (WWCA)

    • A friendly group that come together a few times a week to enjoy knitting, a cuppa and a chat. Tea, coffee, biscuits are provided, but you have to bring your own knitting.

  • Guided Tours: 11am

    • The Heart was once Edinburgh’s oldest working state primary school, now transformed into a vibrant community hub. Come along at 11am to join a tour of the buildings, and hear about the history and heritage of the community.

  • Saturday Soup: 12am - Until the Soup’s Gone (WWCA)

    • A friendly group that come together a few times a week to enjoy knitting, a cuppa and a chat. Tea, coffee, biscuits are provided, but you have to bring your own knitting.

  • Community Gardening Drop-In: 10:30am - 12:30pm

    • Join us on the first Saturday of the month in the garden. We grow fruit & veg to support the Monday Lunch Club, and after the gardening session we normally gather in the dining room for a brew of herbs we grew ourselves. All equipment provided!