Emma
Edinburgh’s Royal Yacht Britannia and luxury floating hotel, Fingal, have become the first corporate member of Leith Community Croft in the North East of the capital.
The announcement marks the beginning of an ongoing relationship between Leith Community Croft, Fingal and The Royal Yacht Britannia that will bring well-being benefits to the community of Leith, including staff of all the partners involved.
Leith Community Croft is a pioneering urban croft on Edinburgh’s Leith Links run by the charity Earth in Common. The croft enables residents of Leith and the surrounding area to grow food collectively, enhancing community cohesion while also providing vital wildlife habitats.
Evie Murray is Founder and CEO of Earth in Common, the charity that runs Leith Community Croft. She says:
“Fingal and Britannia have really got on board with the whole ethos of the organisation.
“The croft is quite a magical place in terms of wellbeing. The land itself offers wellbeing to people. Even just being here helps people feel inspired, friendships form and people feel less lonely. Being at the croft gives people a sense of agency. Local people are able to contribute towards putting food on their tables and nourishing their children. The croft gives people a real sense of joy.”
The corporate membership has a financial element, but the main contribution to Leith Community Croft will be staff from both ships offering their time, resources and skills to the charity, helping with everything from weeding to marketing.
Fingal’s maintenance manager Jay Book marked the beginning of the partnership by designing and building a compost hot box for the croft. Over 200 team members from across the two ships will have the opportunity to volunteer at the croft and spend time in nature to benefit their physical and emotional well-being.
Leith Community Croft currently has around 120 crofters who grow food on the site and many of the members bring children with them. It’s also possible to join as a non-growing member to support the educational work of the charity, and indeed as Fingal and The Royal Yacht Britannia has done, become a corporate member.
Earth in Common has decided to donate 20% of the funds raised through corporate memberships to two food sovereignty projects they support in Northern Malawi.
