The newly refurbished Citadel Youth Centre has been unveiled.

The building is the first to be completed as part of the £9 million Leith Townscape Heritage Initiative.

A total of £830,000 was spent refurbishing the B-listed building, which has been closed for a year. Art, drama and social spaces have been improved, a new entrance complete with disabled access has been built while changing facilities have been upgraded. External repairs have been made to the stonework, roof and guttering, while the outside area has been landscaped.

Hibernian FC Manager John Hughes, who attended the Citadel Youth Centre as a teenager and whose mum worked there as a volunteer, said: "I think the recent refurbishment of the Citadel Youth Centre in Leith is magnificent for the community. The staff and volunteers do a fantastic job there providing a safe and inspiring environment for all the young people who attend and I am delighted to help re-launch the centre.


"When I was a young lad I used to attend the youth clubs so I understand first hand how important Citadel is to the community of Leith, my Mum was also a volunteer for a time. I wish everyone great success for the future."

City Education Leader Cllr Marilyne MacLaren added: "The centre has been a popular hub for young people for many years and this upgrade will help to ensure that the fantastic work taking place there will continue and develop into the future.

"The refurbished facility looks great and with the incorporation of some of the original features of the old railway station, it has become a truly unique building."

Delivered and partly funded by the City of Edinburgh Council, work was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland, the Communities Regeneration Fund, The Port of Leith Housing Association and Youth Link Scotland.

(GK/BMcC)