*Our Stories, Your City hits £10.6k donations*

The prologue:

2012: Mercat Tours and Grassmarket Community partnership established.

2017: Mercat Tours team refreshed our 'WHY' - what bonds our work and our team

'to make meaningful connections through storytelling'

2020: the profound experience of the COVID19 pandemic gave a far deeper understanding of 'exclusion' - from life, choices, opportunities and connections.

The idea!

Mercat’s Master Storytellers can beat exclusion by reconnecting vulnerable communities with their city through storytelling.

Through our work and visitors’ buy-in we make meaningful connections, break down barriers, promote respect and equity, reduce harm, and improve social wellbeing through ethical, regenerative tourism, all whilst supporting Living Wage jobs in tourism.

The response has been remarkable.

Visitors understand and believe in the power of storytelling to connect and heal, giving a sense of belonging. And so the project has expanded, reaching far beyond the impact of 2022, by launching three new chapters:

2022: Phase 1: Grassmarket Community Project Members

2023: Phase 2: Schools in low-income areas

2025: Phase 3: New Scots, refugees and asylum seekers

This project creates a deep lasting bond between visitors, Edinburgh and OSYC Pals through sharing and owning stories of Edinburgh with dignity and self-respect. It supports Living Wage jobs in 5 star attractions to help our economy thrive. It proves the power of storytelling, culture and tourism to create and restore connections with heritage and sense of self.

This project is evidence - tourism IS a force for good.

Pals, Donors, Partners, Mercat Team - thank you.

Mercat is here for good.

Read the full Impact Report