Grassmarket Community Project
Grassmarket Community Project is a Scottish charity and social enterprise founded in 2010, supporting vulnerable adults and young people in Edinburgh through free programmes and four social enterprises: Coffee Saints cafes, Wood Workshop, Greyfriars Tartan, and Event Hire Services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Grassmarket Community Project does
Grassmarket Community Project (GCP) is a registered Scottish charity (No. SC041674) founded in 2010 by Greyfriars Kirk and the Grassmarket Mission, operating from an award-winning centre at 86 Candlemaker Row in Edinburgh's historic Grassmarket. The organisation supports vulnerable adults in Edinburgh experiencing homelessness, mental or physical health problems, learning difficulties, poverty, substance misuse, physical abuse, and social isolation, and now also serves young adults aged 16-30 through a dedicated Young Members Programme. A community of more than 500 members, volunteers, and staff engages in a free Members Programme of activities, classes, and supported groups, alongside free Open Door Meals (2,593 served in 2025) and a free weekly Community Cinema.
GCP's core offering is structured as an integrated portfolio of four award-winning social enterprises: Coffee Saints (two Edinburgh cafes at Candlemaker Row and St James Quarter), the Wood Workshop (hand-crafted furniture and awards from 98% upcycled timber), Greyfriars Tartan (a registered hand-crafted tartan range woven locally in Scotland), and Event Hire Services (meetings, weddings, conferences at the Grassmarket Centre). Members develop skills through participation in these enterprises, creating pathways from activities into skills training and employment. A physical Tartan Shop, a 37-product e-commerce store shipping worldwide, and a 95-seat cinema venue extend the distribution footprint.
The business model blends social enterprise trading income with charitable funding. Revenue streams include sales from cafes, wood products, tartan goods, and event hire; individual donations and fundraising events (including Kiltwalk and inflatable 5K); corporate partnerships with HSBC, John Lewis (10+ years), Edinburgh University, Phoenix Group, TSB, and others; and grants from The Robertson Trust, The National Lottery Community Fund, Nationwide Foundation, EVOC/Scottish Government Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, Heritage Fund, Digital Lifelines, Capital City Partnership, and Hub Community Foundation. In 2025, co-founder Grassmarket Mission closed and transferred its remaining funds and legacy to GCP, strengthening core funding. Leadership comprises CEO Helene van der Ploeg, Founder Richard Frazer, and Chair Rob Trimble (appointed April 2024).
Grassmarket Community Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Grassmarket Community Project
- Legal name
- Grassmarket Community Project
- Website
- https://grassmarket.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Grassmarket Community Project is a Scottish charity and social enterprise founded in 2010, supporting vulnerable adults and young people in Edinburgh through free programmes and four social enterprises: Coffee Saints cafes, Wood Workshop, Greyfriars Tartan, and Event Hire Services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Grassmarket Community Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)
Keywords
Where Grassmarket Community Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Grassmarket Community Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Social Enterprise Revenue: Revenue from four social enterprises: Coffee Saints cafes (food and beverage sales), Wood Workshop (handcrafted furniture and products), Greyfriars Tartan (textile products), and Event Hire services (venue rental and catering). All profits support the charity's mission.
- Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, fundraising events (marathon running, Kiltwalk, inflatable 5K), and legacy bequests from supporters.
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Corporate partnerships including corporate volunteering, sponsoring members activities, and commissioning custom products. Also includes membership activity sponsorship.
- Grant Funding: Grants from trusts and foundations including The Robertson Trust, Nationwide Foundation, The National Lottery Community Fund, EVOC/Scottish Government Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, and others.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Handcrafted wood and textile products |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Donation tiers |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free community services |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Grassmarket Community Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Grassmarket Community Project is a Scottish registered charity (SC041674) based in Edinburgh that supports vulnerable adults and young people through community programmes, social enterprises, and volunteering. It operates Coffee Saints community cafes, a Wood Workshop, Greyfriars Tartan textile line, the Grassmarket Community Picture House cinema, and Open Door Meals, while also offering event hire, training, and a Young Members Programme.
Product overview
Grassmarket Community Project is a charity and social enterprise operating as a unified portfolio of interconnected community services and commercial ventures. The core Members Programme provides free activities, classes, and support for vulnerable adults in Edinburgh. Around this core, GCP has built award-winning social enterprises: Coffee Saints cafes, Event Hire services, the Wood Workshop, and Greyfriars Tartan products, all generating revenue while developing members' skills. Supporting services include the Community Cinema, Open Door Meals, and Volunteering Programme. These offerings function both as standalone services and as integrated pathways—members can participate in activities, develop skills through workshops, gain work experience in social enterprises, and access additional support services, creating a cohesive ecosystem supporting social inclusion and personal development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Coffee Saints: Social enterprise café offering coffee, food, and refreshments. All profits are returned to The Grassmarket Community Project. Opened September 2021. Has received 'One to Watch' award at Scottish Social Enterprise awards 2022 and named as one of top 100 Social Enterprises in UK by Pioneers Post and NatWest.
- Greyfriars Tartan
- Wood Workshop
- Grassmarket Community Picture House
- Event Hire Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 2593 Open Door Meals served in 2025 (average 50 per week)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Grassmarket Community Project
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Grassmarket Community Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Grassmarket Community Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Grassmarket MissionflagshipCo-founder of GCP in 2010. The Mission closed in 2025, transferring its legacy and remaining funds to GCP to support core salaries and life-changing programmes. The Mission had provided generous grants annually since GCP's founding. This ensures the Mission's vision and impact will endure through GCP.
- Greyfriars KirkflagshipCo-founder of Grassmarket Community Project in 2010. Greyfriars Kirk is part of the Greyfriars family of organisations. GCP was developed in partnership and operates from the historic building previously used as Greyfriars' church halls. The Kirk continues as a key partner through shared vision and mission.
- HSBCcoreRegular corporate volunteering partner. Custom-made Corporate Volunteering programmes fit organisational and employees' specific goals. HSBC came to GCP's rescue during urgent need (Super Fan). Part of HSBC's corporate social responsibility.
- John Lewiscore10+ year partnership. Key funder for Wood Workshop. Collaboration includes Alison Kane (retail expert) joining GCP's Tartan Team. Judith the John Lewis Coffee Saint partnership.
- 21st Century KiltsminorPartnership for making Greyfriars Tartan kilts for Kilted Yogis. GCP provides tartan fabric, 21st Century Kilts creates the kilts.
- Edinburgh Film GuildcoreSupports Grassmarket Community Picture House (Community Cinema). Enables all screenings to be FREE. One of the oldest continuously running film societies in the world, supporting community screens across Edinburgh.
- Edinburgh UniversitycoreUniversity of Edinburgh music students run Community Music Group. Partnership with School of Divinity (Burns Night events). Creative partnerships including getting crafty with Greyfriars Tartan.
- Edinburgh Book FestivalcoreUses Grassmarket Event Hire Services. Long-standing relationship with world-famous Edinburgh International Book Festival.
- eKal SolutionsminorCorporate partnership including painting walls and creating digital opportunities. Partnership building skills and strengthening community ties.
- Mercat Toursminor'Our Stories, Your City' project celebrating local history. Partnership marking key milestones. Local walking tours exploring Grassmarket neighbourhood history.
- Phoenix GroupminorCorporate Volunteering day with GCP. Employee volunteering and team building activities.
- TSBminorCommitted to being neighbourly. Blossoming relationship with corporate volunteering activities.
- Bad Boy BarbersminorNeighbours on Candlemaker Row. Good neighbour relationship working for both parties.
- Murrayfield Indoor Sports ClubminorGCP is Murrayfield Indoor Sports Club's 2025 charity partner. Bowls over GCP with their support.
- Laing O'RourkeminorWon Inspiring Partnerships award at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2019. Key corporate partnership.
- Circular Communities ScotlandminorGCP is a paid accredited member. Supports circular economy and sustainability initiatives.
- ChangeworksminorProduces Carbon Reports meeting or exceeding Scottish Government and UK Government targets. Sustainability partner.
- Edinburgh RemakeryminorSource of upcycled/refurbished laptops and phones. Technical equipment supplier with sustainability focus.
- Move on Wood RecyclingminorTakes GCP wood offcuts for upcycling. Part of circular economy network.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Grassmarket Community Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Centrepoint: UK's leading youth homelessness charity, supporting 16-25 year-olds with housing, training, and employment. Directly comparable to GCP's Young Members Programme (16-30) but operating nationally at significantly larger scale.
- Crisis UK: National UK charity focused on ending homelessness, with year-round service delivery and social-enterprise-style trading income. Broadly incumbent in the same beneficiary segment but operating at national scale rather than single-city.
- The Prince's Trust: UK-wide youth charity supporting 11-30 year-olds into education, training, and employment. Comparable to GCP's Young Members Programme (16-30) on skills-and-employment outcomes for vulnerable young adults, but at significantly larger scale.
- Shelter: Major UK housing and homelessness charity providing advice, support, and campaigning. Overlapping beneficiary population with GCP but operating at national scale with a primarily advocacy-and-advice model rather than social-enterprise model.
Direct peers
- Cyrenians: Edinburgh-based charity serving people affected by homelessness, addiction, and disadvantage, with social enterprise arms including a café and furniture recycling operation. Directly comparable by geography, mission, and combined charity-plus-social-enterprise model.
- Belu Water: UK social enterprise producing bottled water with 100% profits to WaterAid. Comparable by structure as a mission-driven commercial brand owned by a charitable parent, with corporate B2B distribution — analogous to GCP's Greyfriars Tartan distribution to Edinburgh Castle and Visit Scotland.
- Turning Point Scotland: Scottish social-care provider supporting people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions, and substance-misuse issues. Directly comparable by geography, beneficiary profile, and combined grant-plus-contract commissioning model.
- Big Issue Group: The UK's flagship social enterprise supporting vulnerable adults, combining a charitable mission with a commercial operation (magazine, Big Issue Invest). Directly comparable to GCP's social-enterprise-funded charity model and target beneficiary profile.
- FareShare: UK-wide charity redistributing surplus food to people facing hunger, operating a hybrid grant-funded + commercial logistics model. Directly comparable to GCP's food-security mission via Open Door Meals (10,000+ meals in 2025) and combined charitable/commercial revenue model.
Emerging players
- Social adVentures Foundation: Manchester-based organisation supporting start-up and growing social enterprises with capacity-building programmes. Comparable in mission (social-enterprise development) though focused on capacity-building rather than direct service delivery like GCP.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Grassmarket Community Project social profiles
Digital presenceGrassmarket Community Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Grassmarket Community Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Grassmarket Community Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Grassmarket Community Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Grassmarket Community Project
What does Grassmarket Community Project do?
Grassmarket Community Project is a Scottish registered charity (SC041674) based in Edinburgh that supports vulnerable adults and young people through community programmes, social enterprises, and volunteering. It operates Coffee Saints community cafes, a Wood Workshop, Greyfriars Tartan textile line, the Grassmarket Community Picture House cinema, and Open Door Meals, while also offering event hire, training, and a Young Members Programme.
Is Grassmarket Community Project a public or private company?
Grassmarket Community Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Grassmarket Community Project founded?
Grassmarket Community Project was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Grassmarket Community Project based?
Grassmarket Community Project is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Grassmarket Community Project make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Social Enterprise Revenue is the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising, corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship and grant Funding.
Who are Grassmarket Community Project's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Centrepoint, Crisis UK, The Prince's Trust and Shelter. Direct peers are Cyrenians, Belu Water, Turning Point Scotland, Big Issue Group and FareShare. Social adVentures Foundation is listed as an emerging player.
Does Grassmarket Community Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Grassmarket Community Project.
What industry is Grassmarket Community Project in?
Grassmarket Community Project's product category is Community Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAL, Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services.