Jenny tackles the Edinburgh Marathon, 27 May 2018

I'm running the Edinburgh Marathon to raise funds for the New Cross Gate Trust. I've worked for the New Cross Gate Trust for the last 6 years, an amazing job where I've met so many inspirational people. We deliver a very wide selection of activities and services for the local community, in an inner city area which has very high levels of deprivation. Our services include adult learning courses, ESOL classes, and a new Employment Advice and IT Skills training service. We provide gardening clubs and sewing clubs for adults, and stay and play sessions and recorder clubs for children and young people. There are also a number of activities to help support people to be physically and mentally healthy, including a new diabetes walking group, mindfulness sessions and a self-help depression group. During the summer, my colleague Jill delivers the most fantastic 2 week theatre club for local young people, developing their self confidence, team building, acting and singing skills, in what would otherwise normally be a very long and probably boring summer holiday for many families who may be unable to afford to go away anywhere during the break. We also run large community events in September and at Halloween. We support other local groups too, funding summer youth activities for at least three other local organisations, and providing capacity building support to others in the form of training or equipment needs for other local groups. A wide range of groups also make use of our community space for events and meetings. The funds I raise will go towards improving Besson Street Community Garden itself - which costs a lot to maintain, and to buy necessary equipment for the wide range of services we provide. Please give generously. I'll be running this marathon with my little sister, like the last one I did (16 years ago!!), in my home town, so it should be exciting in addition to a lot of hard effort! Thanks for your support, Jenny