The film, titled Save the Cinema, tells the powerful true story of a group of ordinary people in Carmarthen who fought against the demolition of their town’s cinema and theatre. These individuals transformed into determined activists, bravely occupying the cinema and standing up to the police, developers, and politicians. In a classic Hollywood twist, their efforts culminated in Steven Spielberg allowing them to host a premiere for Jurassic Park, which garnered worldwide press attention and ultimately saved the cinema.

As I viewed the film, the parallels between the story of Duncan Place and an old arts venue in Carmarthen became strikingly clear. Like the cinema, Duncan Place was saved from demolition because local people united to fight for its survival. More on that later, but first - what goes on at Duncan Place? I know many people who have walked past the building, oblivious to what happens there, but here’s a snapshot of some activities recently offered over a two-week period:

Tai Chi

Yoga

Laughter for Health and Happiness

Community Film Club

Choir (40 members strong; I’m one of them)

Chair Yoga

Drum Circle

Craft Group

Youth Drama

LEGO for Adults

At a personal level, I had never sung in a choir, played drums in a group, or done much volunteer work in the community until I happened across Duncan Place. Since then, I’ve met many others in the same boat. These range from recent arrivals in Leith from places such as Italy, Ukraine, Canada, and Spain, to locals who have retired and are looking to find new activities. I would not have met them in nearly all cases had it not been for Duncan Place.

The building is run by a charity dedicated to its mission. Alongside running activities for local residents, they receive an income by renting out office and activity space at reasonable rates to organisations many of which are charities and focused on community welfare.

The impact on local residents is far-reaching. Individuals who might otherwise feel isolated, particularly newcomers to the area, can come here to build friendships. The advantages extend beyond social connection: Emma Young, the Tai Chi instructor who leads beginner and advanced classes, has found that participants with long-term conditions have experienced improvements in balance, strength, and relaxation, with one even reporting a notable reduction in pain.

Class members appreciate the warm atmosphere and the effort made by Duncan Place staff to remember their names. For Emma, Duncan Place is a unique opportunity to teach classes that are hard to find elsewhere: “It’s a real pleasure being part of such an inclusive community space.”

Seraph, who established Duncan Place’s first community choir two years ago, has been involved in various choirs over the years. Though she previously established a singing group for mothers and toddlers, this choir marks her first independent initiative.

She told me how she has witnessed “remarkable transformations: people who arrive feeling tired leave energised and uplifted; strangers quickly become neighbours, engaging in warm conversations and forming new bonds. But the most powerful feedback comes from those who report a significant improvement in their mental health after just 90 minutes of singing together. Group singing truly is medicine for the soul.”

When the choir began, it only had a couple of men (myself included), perhaps because men can be more reticent to get involved in community activities (at least in my experience). However, over time, more men have joined, encouraged by the relaxed atmosphere (no auditions, no singing from music sheets). One choir member I stand next to in the ‘low voices’ section also does Tai Chi and attends the film screenings, just one example of how Duncan Place has become a valuable part of many people’s lives.

Duncan Place delivers opportunities in a myriad of ways, often overlooked by the bean counters who only focus on how much it costs to maintain a building. Food and drink are needed from catering suppliers, and money is put in the pockets of staff, cleaners, event organisers and class instructors. Charities and community organisations have more resources because they pay reasonable rents for office space. People who come to classes often benefit from a greater sense of well-being, which also has multiple benefits, including reducing the demand on health services.

Its promotion of new activities allows individuals to make career changes. Two people I talked to who lead classes have been encouraged to focus on teaching in the community as a career and not just a side line from their day jobs.

However, this was nearly lost.

The building began in 1920 as Leith Academy Technical College & Gymnasium. It evolved into a community centre in the 1970s. At its peak, over 500 people participated in activities each week. Unfortunately, structural issues led the Edinburgh Council to close the building in 2014 and plot its demolition. There was no backup plan - no other facility that could accommodate all the groups that had once thrived here.

This sparked a determined struggle by local residents to save Duncan Place. The council saw the building as a financial burden, but locals recognised its invaluable benefits and mobilised by creating a Facebook page to ‘Save Duncan Place’. Despite limited resources, these activists reached out to Historic Scotland and other organisations for assistance. Their negotiations with the council were intense and protracted, but after seven years of unwavering effort, it was local people who saved it. A new charity was established to run it.

The tale of Duncan Place, much like the Save Leith Walk campaign, serves as an emphatic reminder: if local people don’t unite and stand up for what they believe is right, no one else will advocate on their behalf.