Lend a hand at MS Therapy Centre makeover

The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Therapy Centre in Leith is undergoing a makeover on 8,9 and 10 February and is looking for around 20 volunteers who can spare a few hours to help with decorating.

The refurbishment is the first in more than a decade and has been made possible thanks to the generosity of local tradesmen. Johnstone’s Paints, Edinburgh and Ideal Carpets, Musselburgh are among the local businesses that have donated materials and given their time free of charge.

Nancy Campbell, Operations Manager, MS Therapy Centre said: “The place needs brightened up. We haven’t been able to afford to for the past ten years, as the centre costs so much to run, but thanks to the support of local tradesmen, we are about to see a transformation.

“We are, however, looking for people who are handy with a paintbrush and don’t mind helping out for a few hours. There is a lot of painting to be done, but I am sure it will be worth the effort and that our clients are going to love the new look. We are trying to create a more welcoming and therapeutic environment. “

One of the services offered at the MS Therapy Centre is hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This takes place in a large decompression chamber, similar to the ones divers use. This is also part of the make-over plans, as Nancy explained: “We’ve commissioned a local artist to paint the outside of the chamber and create a ‘bubbles’ effect. Our clients talk about ‘going for a dive’ when they head into the chamber, so we have used this idea and I think it will make everybody smile when they see it.”

Once the internal makeover is complete, the centre is hoping to start on the outside of the building and is looking for a local artist to help in creating a graffiti-style mural for the steel shutters.

Volunteers who can help with the repainting are asked to contact the MS Therapy Centre on 0131 554 5384.

Times of the makeover:

Friday 8 February 2-6pm

Saturday 9 February 12-6pm

Sunday 10 February 12-6pm

MStherapy

There’s more to Edinburgh … outdoors

A new website and free app for iPhone and Android that will encourage people to get out and about in Edinburgh’s parks and outdoor spaces is being launched by the City of Edinburgh Council today.

Edinburgh Outdoors is a new online resource where people can find out information about the city’s 141 parks and discover new green areas in the city. How old is that tree? Where is the nearest play area? When was this monument built and why? The app is an easy way to explore Edinburgh’s parks on the move.

People are also encouraged to take their own photos of the city’s parks and upload them via the app or on the Edinburgh Outdoors website to share their experiences with other people.

Starting today (Friday 1 February), staff from across the Council will be tweeting and uploading photos to the website with comments about what they are doing while they go about their normal work in the city’s parks and greenspaces. Follow @EdinOutdoors for the latest.

Using the hashtag #edinparks, people can join the conversation on Twitter and get out and about in parks to add what they are doing both on Friday and over the weekend.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, the city’s Environment Convener, said: “Edinburgh is widely recognised as having some of the most fantastic parks and green spaces. This innovative project will make use of the Council’s vast wealth of data and give park users access to it – allowing them to find out more about what Edinburgh’s outdoors has to offer.

“We’re hoping people will not only share their pictures of the city’s parks but also share their enjoyment of being out and about in Edinburgh.”

The project has been created by the City of Edinburgh Council with funding from Nesta’s ‘Make it Local Scotland’ competitive programme.

Jackie McKenzie, Head of Nesta’s Innovation Programmes in Scotland, said: “The fantastic work being done by the City of Edinburgh Council shows how open data can be used to develop new services for citizens and, by encouraging them to add their own content, to make that service even better. Local authorities have shown the amazing results that can be achieved through the excellent partnership they have developed with digital companies. Edinburgh Outdoors is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to explore the beautiful parks and green spaces in the city and to share their own knowledge of these places.

“Nesta hopes that other councils across Scotland and beyond will take advantage of the fact that all of the information and code for these initiatives is open source helping others to develop DIGITAL services for future years.”

Victoria Park in Spring
Victoria Park in Spring

 

Man in court following Ferryfield drug find

A man has been charged after a quantity of herbal cannabis and plants with a combined street value of more than £28,000 were discovered at a property off Ferry Road yesterday (January 31). More than £2000 in cash was also seized during a search of the flat in West Ferryfield.

The 37-year-old is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (February 1).

Fettes