OUR MISSION

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Why we do what we do

TheSpace Scotland CIC is dedicated to creating inclusive, youth-powered community hubs that promote, motivate, and celebrate ‘Youth in Community.’ We aim to foster positive action, opportunities, and connections across multi-generational and diverse communities, challenging the notion of young people as a separate group. Powered by youth for the entire community, our mission is to build bold, groundbreaking Action, Learning, and Enterprise Hubs that are open to all, with a strong social purpose, economic self-reliance, and environmental sustainability.

HOW WE DO WHAT WE DO

We draw from our history, including the successes of theSpace North Berwick (2011-2015), Phantassie Sound, and Phantassie Skatepark, to empower individuals, regenerate places, and protect the planet. Through facilities, programs, and partnerships, we create sustainable jobs, skill-building opportunities, and spaces that bridge divides, geographic, generational, social, and economic, while addressing challenges like rapid population growth, post-Covid impacts, and cost-of-living pressures in areas like Dunbar and East Lothian.


Key Objectives
  • Empower and Connect Our People: Ensure universal accessibility, treat everyone with kindness and dignity, provide holistic support to overcome barriers (including trauma), foster a diverse workforce, and promote equality through development opportunities and collaborations.
  • Regenerate and Celebrate Our Place: Contribute to a wellbeing economy and community wealth-building by nurturing youth power, boosting cultural and sporting activities, addressing poverty and inequality, creating fair jobs, growing local skills in key sectors (e.g., hospitality, enterprise, leisure), and enhancing tourism and entrepreneurship.
  • Respect and Protect Our Planet: Meet ambitious net-zero targets in construction and operations, support sustainable water cycles, enhance biodiversity and land use, promote eco-friendly transport, adopt zero-waste practices, and create healthy environments for all users.

In essence, our mission is to “make the imaginable possible, the possible doable, and the doable done” by building resilient, enterprising spaces that empower youth, strengthen communities, and deliver lasting social, economic, and environmental benefits.

OUR STORY

2009 - 2010

PHANTASSIE SKATEPARK

Our journey kicked off over 15 years ago with Phantassie Sound, a vibrant youth music space from 2006-2011. It sparked creativity through local gigs and leading to the temporary Phantassie Skatepark in the summers of 2009 and 2010, where young people built skills and bonds that would evolve into Uprising East Lothian.

2011 - 2015

theSPACE NORTH BERWICK

From those early sparks, we leased an old factory in North Berwick and launched theSpace NB in 2011, a buzzing multi-activity centre with skateparks, music rooms, and community programs. For 5 transformative years, it nurtured youth resilience and talents, but when the lease expired and the site was sold, the dream didn’t fade; it ignited a quest for something permanent.

NOW

theSPACE DUNBAR

Today, our dream is alive at Dunbear Point in Dunbar. After engaging the community in July 2025 consultations, we crafted detailed RIBA plans, raised £98k through grants and a 2025 Crowdfunder, and submitted our full planning application Jan 2026. We’re gearing up for a £15m capital raise to build our landmark facility in Dunbar.

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