My office has submitted a £20 million funding bid for Edinburgh South West. This time, the focus was Wester Hailes, but I hope this is just the start. The bid file is at the foot of this blog.

Wester Hailes is more than a neighbourhood, it’s a community with a powerful sense of identity. It’s a place where people look out for one another, where creativity thrives despite hardship, and where resilience shines through even in the toughest times.

But Wester Hailes has faced decades of challenges. Years of underinvestment, the loss of shared spaces, and the ongoing pressures of the cost-of-living crisis have taken a toll. Today, it has the lowest median income in Edinburgh and the highest proportion of children living in low-income families. Poverty and poor health are deeply connected here, with life expectancy around seven years below the city average.

Despite these realities, Wester Hailes has never stood still. Local organisations, volunteers, and residents have worked tirelessly to keep services running and maintain community assets—even through austerity and the pandemic. This spirit of determination is what makes Wester Hailes special.

Now, there is a plan to turn that resilience into renewal. The Wester Hailes Local Place Plan (LPP), Scotland’s first registered, was built through extensive community consultation. It identifies 36 locally endorsed projects designed to strengthen community ownership, expand civic participation, and improve access to quality public spaces. From the Greenway Community Hub to revitalising Westside Plaza, these projects are ready to go. The only barrier? Funding.

The Pride in Place Fund offers a rare opportunity to match the ambition of Wester Hailes with the resources it needs. Backing this bid means investing in a proven partnership model, community-led priorities, and projects that can deliver immediate, measurable impact. With established organisations like WHALE Arts, Prospect Community Housing, and the Wester Hailes Community Trust already in place, this is a low-risk, high-return investment in local pride and long-term renewal.

Wester Hailes has the people, ideas, and energy to build a better future. What it needs now is sustained investment. With the right support, this community can thrive—embodying the pride, resilience, and potential that the Pride in Place programme was designed to celebrate.

The case for investment is clear. The time to act is now.

Many thanks to all who helped with the bid – it has been a real team effort!