Kanzen for Life has secured a major £224,000 funding pledge from NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation to support the development of the new Kanzen for Life Centre in Dundee.
The new centre will create a dedicated space for focused wellbeing programmes, physical activity, learning and social connection to support people of all ages across Dundee and Tayside. The centre will act as a community anchor, providing accessible prevention programmes that improve physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection, particularly for those facing disadvantage.
The project represents a £1million investment into the Stobswell community through capital investment and job creation.
The funding pledge is a significant investment in preventative approaches to combating health and wellbeing issues and recognises Kanzen for Life’s growing impact across the region through community led, inclusive programmes.
Shelley McCarthy, Charity Chief Officer at NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation, said: “We believe that strong, healthy communities are built when people have access to spaces that support their wellbeing in a truly holistic way. Kanzen for Life’s new wellbeing centre will provide exactly that, a safe, supportive environment focused on prevention, connection and empowerment. This project strongly reflects our charitable priorities and we are delighted to support an initiative that will make a real, lasting difference to people’s lives across Tayside.”
The Kanzen for Life Centre will expand existing work delivered by the charity across schools, communities and partner organisations, creating long term pathways into activity, leadership and improved wellbeing.
The centre is designed to support prevention rather than crisis, helping reduce pressure on health and social care services while strengthening community resilience.
Roy O’Kane, Chief Officer of Kanzen for Life, said the pledge marked a major milestone for the project.
He said: “This support from NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation will be transformational. It validates the importance of prevention-led, community-driven wellbeing and gives us the confidence to move forward at pace. This centre will exist for the people who need it most, now and for generations to come.”
The Kanzen for Life Centre will convert 538 square metres of warehousing on Clepington Road and will become an important resource to the Stobswell West community, an area identified as being in the most deprived 5% of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.
The organisation has already secured a 20-year lease agreement, providing long-term stability, and is working in collaboration with Jon Frullani Architects, the award-winning Dundee-based firm known for its inclusive, community-focused design.
Work to progress the Kanzen for Life Centre is ongoing, with an announcement on the delivery date for the project expected early this year.
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