At the end of last year, Harmeny Education Trust was delighted to support a community-led initiative, working alongside local volunteers to refurbish a much-loved local landmark: a traditional red telephone box. For the past five years this iconic box has been given a new lease of life as a welcoming community library.
Careful measurements were taken to ensure the new shelves would fit the unique space.
The telephone box was purchased by the Balerno Village Trust in 2019 and, with the help of local residents and volunteers, has been maintained as a shared space for books, puzzles, plants, and small games. It’s become a valued resource for the community, Harmeny’s young people, and visitors who enjoy walking around the nearby reservoirs.
A few months ago Harmeny responded to a request by local resident Sofia Soboleva about replacing the wooden shelving with a bespoke unit to help maximise space and ensure donated items are well cared for.
Left: Sofia inspects the work Right: Ron Smith, volunteer woodwork instructor and Craig Paul from Harmeny with the completed shelves.
Designing shelves for a unique space
To make the most of the compact and distinctive interior of the telephone box, three of our young people worked with our skilled woodwork volunteer, Ron Smith, in our woodwork workshop.
Before construction began, one young person met with Sofia to understand the specific requirements and take careful measurements. Another helped varnish the shelves and a third young person assisted with the installation. All providing a great opportunity to put planning and problem-solving skills into practice.
The red telephone box is refilled and ready for its first visitor!
Learning through volunteering
For our young people, taking part in projects like this are about more than developing practical skills. Community volunteering also helps develop a sense of pride in contributing to shared spaces, while building confidence, teamwork, organisation and craftsmanship.
We are proud to support initiatives that allow young people to learn through real-world experiences while giving something back to the community.
A shared resource for Balerno
Located on Harlaw Road, the library stands as a small but powerful example of how collaboration, volunteering and shared resources can strengthen community life and create welcoming spaces for everyone.
