History

The Melting Pot may have come from the vision of Founding Director, Claire Carpenter, but it’s been created through the influences, determination and effort of many people over many years. The Melting Pot first opened doors in October 2007, after several years pre-trading development work, and after even more years ‘being thought about’.

Claire saw the need for The Melting Pot all around her:

• in our need to respond personally, professionally and collectively to the many ecological-social-economic problems that we face and are constantly creating
• in the creative, industrious and imaginative efforts of many talented, dedicated people working on great initiatives to improve our collective wellbeing
• in the need for timely resources, connections and support – independent of government agendas and resources – to help keep us motivated in our journeys of social change.

Claire decided to create an independent, low-carbon, financially self-sufficient resource base – a melting pot – to bring together interesting people to do amazing things - to make the world a better place.  She recruited a team of volunteers to turn the idea into a reality, and together they set off on a journey which is still evolving.  The only constant is change.

The pace picked up after securing the top floor of 'Thorn House' - the Ethical Property Company's first centre in Scotland, which was fitted out through huge volunteer input. In the first few years The Melting Pot has supported hundreds of Members (both individuals and whole organisations) and hosted well over a thousand events and meetings, involving tens of thousands of people.  The Melting Pot currently has more than 130 members using the workspace and network.  It forms a dynamic, diverse and supportive community.  Will you join us and make history together?

The Melting Pot has always received a wide range of in-kind and financial support without which our story would be very different! Our thanks go to all those individuals involved in developing this social enterprise – past, present and future.

We acknowledge financial assistance from: the Tudor Trust, the Scottish Government’s Third Sector Enterprise Fund, the Scottish Community Foundation, Scotland UnLtd, the Big Lottery and the Ethical Property Company.