Projects and Resources

Projects and Resources

P&J is based at Words & Actions for Peace at 58 Ratcliffe Terrace.

This is a space we share with fellow peace organisation Secure Scotland 

It is also a resource space for peace and community groups to use.

The space is overseen by veteran peace activist Janet Fenton, who is also a key organiser for Secure Scotland. If you or your group want to put on a small exhibition or event, or need to hire space for a meeting, or need a place to store your equipment, please get in contact . And if there are other ways we might be able to support your efforts for peace and sustainability, please let us know.

The centre also offers promotion in the shop window, somewhere for people to collect fliers, and promotion through our website, email and social media for member groups.  Members can use the space for storage, prop and banner making, small public meetings, or administrative gatherings, including use of our ‘big’screen and wee PA!  Advice and support is available on campaigning, developing your group locally and press and media work.

On the last Sunday of the month we have our Sunday lunch from 12 – 2pm: join us for soup and a roll and a chat about what we’ve been up to with P&J and Secure Scotland trustees, staff and volunteers (see the pictures above).

Projects

Our Peace Garden project

We are developing a new project in South Edinburgh – a peace garden that will be planned and created together with the local community for the benefit of people in Craigmillar, the Inch and the surrounding area.

A recent crowdfunder together with a number of successful small grant applications have assured funding for the project for its first year.

We are working with a couple of other local charities who support families from marginalised communities across Edinburgh, and we will develop the project together. Bridgend Farmhouse has given us a designated space in their community garden to develop a space for peace.

We are developing this project collaboratively, thinking together about what peace means, and how we can build a culture of peace locally. We will then consider together how we might develop this space.

51 Strangers

51 Strangers takes its name from the alarming statistic that 51% of adults in Scotland said they hide their feelings of loneliness from other people. The same 2022 survey found that a quarter of the population reported feeling lonely some or all of the time during the previous month. This project aims to challenge the rise in social isolation and loneliness, particularly among young people. The project aims to facilitate the opportunity for social connection through face-to-face dialogue, re-establishing the value of communication and trust.

Initially, we will do this through a scavenger hunt game that encourages the participant to talk to strangers. As the project gains momentum, we will establish and facilitate community peacebuilding events. 

To find out more about the project or to get involved contact Mark our peacebuilding coordinator

Pubic engagement

P&J runs our annual Carnall Peace Award – a prize giving and annual public lecture in September on the broad theme of international peace campaigning. Previous award winners have included Yemeni human rights organisation Mwatana, Professor Paul Rodgers, and Wi’am – the Palestinian Conflict Transformation Centre in Bethlehem.

We also run annual actions for peace and remembering conscientious objectors, including CO Day in May, and an alternative Remembrance Sunday in November.

Opposing War Memorial

Our plans to build an Opposing War Memorial in Princes Street Garden hit a number of hurdles, including the planned redesign of Princes Street Gardens that was initially delayed and then scrapped following the pandemic. Although many people gave generously to the crowdfunder, we were unable to successfully apply for a grant to supplement this. As a result out plans for the memorial have reduced in ambition somewhat.

But we are pleased that Edinburgh Council have now planted a handkerchief tree in the Gardens (see photo below) – which had great significance to Kate Ive’s original plans for a bronze sculpture of a handkerchief tree as a memorial to those who oppose war – that we have sponsored. Watch this space for more updates on the project.

Previous projects

Peace Cranes

Peacebuilding in primary schools

We anticipate these projects having their own impact going forward, with new peace and art exhibitions organised by the Peace Cranes curatorial team running alongside Peace and Justice core work, and a new emphasis on Peace Education growing out of the schools work we did before the Pandemic.

(Above) Pictures from the peace cranes exhibition in 2021 – the culmination of 5 years collecting 140,000 origami peace cranes from around the world to remember the first victims of nuclear weapons when the US bombed Hiroshima in 1945. See more about our peace cranes project here

Share Button