Pilton Community Health Project

Who we are

Pilton Community Health Project is a grassroots community development project based in the heart of North Edinburgh, serving local people since 1984. We operate with a small team of nine workers and 31 volunteers. We use a strengths-based, community-led approach alongside people to take steps to better health. We build trusted relationships with people living with multiple health and wellbeing challenges in their lives and support them to make positive changes in their lives. 

We work with people and families living in North Edinburgh affected by the impacts of long term health inequalities, the cost of living crisis and the pandemic. North Edinburgh is classified between 5% - 20% of the worst affected by multiple deprivation in Scotland, the majority living in areas scoring between 5% - 10% (SIMD 2020). 

All our projects are driven and underpinned by the New Economics Foundation Five Ways to Wellbeing (Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Learn and Give Back). This ensures an evidence-based framework for our work and impact measurement. We record experiences towards the project outcomes using individual and group feedback and worker and volunteer observations and reflections.

In 23-24, our work positively impacted the lives of 5,055 people in 2,022 households. We cooked and shared 2,080 meals and our community link workers co-produced social prescriptions through 1:1 support with 577 people, strengthening community connections and links to training, advice, local support and services.

Our culture and values

Our vision

Equality, Wellbeing and Belonging for all in our communities

Our mission

PCHP supports and enables local people to improve their own health and create a healthy community and environment

The following principles and values underpin our work

·         Relationships built on trust, respect and honesty

·         Welcoming and inclusive behaviour that ensures everyone is treated with dignity

·         Work that actively supports and empowers people, enabling them to take control of their own lives, and that protects their rights

·         Positivity, enthusiasm and a commitment to work flexibly and creatively to achieve our vision

Our strengths-based approach

 We work with a strengths-based approach: supporting and developing the strengths inside someone – like knowledge and experience. This way of working can empower people to take control of their own health and avoids doing things to people, not with them.