Bailliefields Community Hub offers a reminder of what community can be. It is a warm and welcoming space for everyone, long-term residents and New Scots alike.
The award-winning community hub is the charitable arm of Westquarter and Redding Cricket Club (WRCC). As well as being the grounds for the club, there’s a cafe, a children’s nursery, a community garden, and two very busy community spaces.
“Our motto is ‘a place for all,’” says Community Hub Officer Julie Hayward who helps coordinate and run activities.
“Supporting refugees and people seeking asylum grew naturally from our values.
“One of our volunteer cricket coaches, who had links with other local groups, began bringing some people housed in local asylum accommodation to our cricket training sessions. A few individuals enjoyed it so much they joined the Mens 2nd team.
“The positive experience sparked the idea that we could be doing even more to include people seeking asylum in our activities.”
That’s when the idea for a garden project at the hub was inspired by Bailliefield’s trustee, Patrick O’Growney, who had previously worked on a similar project with New Scots.
“Each Friday, our minibus brought people staying in asylum accommodation to spend the day building a new garden, getting to use existing skills and learning new ones, and getting to enjoying an outdoor space whilst supporting one another,” explains Julie.
“For our garden open day, the space looked fantastic. Local residents, councillors, trustees, Friends of Scottish Settlers (FOSS) and Forth Environment Link all came along, and helped fill the raised beds, and some of the people involved in transforming the garden space also cooked a delicious meal for everyone.
A couple of the participants shared their thoughts on their experience at the hub:
“It helped me to develop my language and my skills.I hope to continue in a society with good work in the future.” – Kirubel
“I have made friends, learned about the culture and learned about how Scottish people garden.” – Abenezer
Bailliefields hopes to keep the momentum going.
“Hopefully with funding, we’ll be able to add more plants, seating and possibly a dome and barbecue area for the local community. We have a tree‑planting day planned for spring, along with a fundraising quiz and curry night, bringing the community together. We’re also planning a joint event FOSS as part of Refugee Festival Scotland 2026, including a charity cricket match, language tasters, crafts and food.”
What’s happening at Bailliefields Community Hub is so much more than a garden project or a busy community space – it’s a look at what can flourish when people are welcomed and given opportunities to get involved – a community that’s stronger, kinder, and more connected.
