4 Nov 2025
Tackling isolation & Loneliness in Edinburgh – Sporting Memories Scotland Volunteer Allister McKillop
At the beginning of the month, Robert was invited to one of Sporting Memories Scotland community cafe sessions.Â
Lead volunteer Allister McKillop shared a bit of background on the cafe and they work they have been doing with Robert:
‘‘The Meeting Place, established 3 years ago is a Dementia friendly community cafe for those living in Juniper Green, Currie and Balerno.
Anyone living with isolation and/or loneliness and ALL unpaid carers welcome. We are at 42nd Pentland Scout Hall Forthview Crescent EVERY Monday 10 till 4 and offer various activities, lunch and unlimited tea and coffee.
Exercise is a very big part of our ethos so when Robert from Scottish Archery suggested a session we were delighted. Our group absolutely loved it, never having tried anything like it brought great hilarity as we continually missed the target!
With Roberts help we all improved and was amazingly successful. We now have two gifted sets and use them every week.
Fantastic resource and I would love to see other clubs like ourselves try it out!''
Thanks Allister for inviting us along and it was really enjoyable connecting with everyone in the group
To find a Sporting Memories Club near you, click here: Find a club | Sporting Memories
Who are Sporting Memories?
Sporting Memories are a charity and social enterprise that helps older people to reminisce, replay and reconnect through the power of sport and physical activity.Â
Launched in 2011, Sporting Memories supports a wide range of people aged 50-plus, including those living with dementia, living with depression or facing isolation and loneliness to improve their mental and physical wellbeing through our regular club sessions, situated within local communities across England, Scotland and Wales.
They are dedicated to bringing older people together with the aim of making a positive difference in their lives by providing them with a welcoming, supportive and structured environment where they can develop confidence to improve their lives for the better.
Sporting Memories achieves this by offering a range of support mechanisms and unique products which are designed to aid the development and running of sessions in a range of locations including community and leisure centres, care homes, hospitals and a range of settings.