Craigroyston FC seeks volunteers

Helping the local community

Committee members and volunteers required

As many people will know there’s been a background staff changeover for the season ahead with a new chairman, committee and management team taking over the running of the club.

While we are moving in the right direction we would like to extend an opportunity for anyone interested to come on board as a committee member or match day volunteer.

We have a fantastic set up down at St Marks Park and would like to continue the fantastic work that the previous committee have done in running the club. We are effectively starting from scratch so we are very keen to add to our committee and volunteers as we look to build for the next 44 years.

As a committee member, you will play a major part in how the club moves forward. As part of the committee you will be involved in the general running of the club and be involved in fundraising etc. There will be regular committee meetings to discuss new ideas, and general club matters.

As a volunteer you will be involved on home match days helping with the various jobs before, during and after matches. If you are interested, we will find a job for you to help with, there’s something for everybody! From setting up goals and barriers to serving teas and coffee, to taking in gate money or hanging up kits.

Anyone interested please message us directly on our Facebook page and we can have an informal chat over the phone or a cup of tea down the club. Please do not be put off if you’ve never been involved with a club before, If you have good ideas then we would love to hear from you.

Clubs at our level rely on volunteers, they are the people that make the club run, without you we simply couldn’t do it.

Craigroyston FC committee

North Edinburgh Arts to become community-owned hub

North Edinburgh Arts (NEA) has been granted full community ownership in a community asset transfer from the City of Edinburgh Council. With the additional transfer of a plot of land to the north of the organisation’s venue, NEA is now in a position to lead on the development of an extended creative and community hub for the area, working in partnership with the Council. 

Bringing the organisation, established in 1998, into community ownership and working to extend the facilities will make sure this dynamic community venue is fit for purpose for the next two decades.

New enterprise, workshop, learning space and creative studios are planned, alongside a dedicated youth area, expanded café, and shared atrium all working to complement the Council’s adjoining library and early year’s provision.

NEA carried out extensive consultation to gauge support for the project with 96% of respondents in favour. The organisation offers local residents a place to relax, explore, learn, meet, share, volunteer and have fun in. Last year over 40,000 visits were made to the venue once described by STV as ‘a bright bubble behind Muirhouse shopping centre.’

NEA is based in the heart of Muirhouse and their current venue incorporates two studios, a 96 seat theatre, recording studio, gallery, offices and the pop in community café with children’s play area leading onto a large garden. NEA offers a safe, comfortable and creative space for people of all ages to develop within. 

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic over 30 hours of creative workshops were on offer each week, most with a family focus, alongside a wide range of other events from singing groups to circus skills workshops, exhibitions, community theatre, film clubs, and festival events.

The venue is also home to Muirhouse Link Up, Firstport Social Enterprise, North Edinburgh Drug and Alcohol Centre, and the Tinderbox Orchestra, all working to serve the most disadvantaged children, families and individuals in the North Edinburgh area.

Chair of NEA, Lesley Hinds, said: “NEA has won five national awards in the last six years for place making and creative projects. This new capital project will allow the organisation to flourish, alongside Council provision, and bring a first class facility to Macmillan Square.

“NEA is a special place for the community of North Edinburgh and has been a trusted community anchor providing emergency food and support throughout the COVID lockdown. The granting of the Community Asset Transfer from the Council is the first step on our next exciting journey.” 

Director Kate Wimpress added: “The bright blue NEA building has been a beacon of hope for many throughout the lockdown. Alongside our COVID activity of the last four months we have been working closely with Council colleagues to share and establish our vision of a world class creative hub for the next generation of North Edinburgh residents.

“Today’s endorsement from the Council takes us one step closer to this vision becoming a reality.”

Contact: Kate Wimpress director@northedinburgharts.co.uk 

www.northedinburgharts.co.uk 

Twitter @northedinarts

Facebook facebook.com/northedinarts

Pictures: Robin Mair

Second COVID newsletter produced

North Edinburgh’s COVID-19 Food Share Consortium has produced a second newsletter.

The limited print run eight page publication will initially be distributed through the Group’s food distribution network and will also be available at local projects and offices.

For further information please email northedinnews@gmail.com

Help create a community mural

Do you believe everyone in North Edinburgh has the right to feel safe?

Has Black Lives Matter meant something to you, your family, friends or neighbours?

Would you like to be part of a creative way to think about a community that feels safe for all and without racism?

Come and be a part of designing and creating a powerful Community Mural at North Edinburgh Arts.

This is for anyone from any background and any ability. We want everyone to be part of this to create something inspiring. We believe everyone has a creative voice that can make change.

For more info or to get involved, please email rosagarman@pchp.org.uk or text/WhatsApp 07595 589 343.

GIC advice sessions to resume at Muirhouse Medical Group

Granton Information Centre are delighted to announce that we are resuming our benefits/money/debt advice outreach service at Muirhouse Medical Group from the beginning of September.

The appointments are with our advisor Kay on Wednesday afternoons and can be made by contacting the surgery directly on 0131 202 4444.

Please be aware these appointments are for those people who are registered with Muirhouse Medical Group only.

Urban Union sees an increase in new home reservations during lockdown

Since lockdown began at the end of March, Urban Union – a construction company which delivers large-scale, housing-led regeneration projects across Scotland – has handed over 23 properties and secured 52 reservations at its developments in Glasgow, Perth and Edinburgh.

To ensure none of its clients found themselves homeless during the coronavirus pandemic which put much of the UK housing market on hold, Urban Union has been using key safes, hosting video demonstrations and conducing handovers via FaceTime in order to continue operations in line with social distancing guidelines.

Urban Union, which is part of Robertson, one of the largest family-owned construction, infrastructure and support services businesses in the UK, has also been providing advice to those moving on how to do so responsibly to respect social distancing measures.

Neil McKay, Managing Director of Urban Union, said: “Coupled with the raising of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax threshold for residential properties, it’s a promising sign for the industry that we have continued to see strong interest from new homebuyers.

“Despite the economic uncertainty and temporary hold on the property market, the extra time we’ve been spending at home has given many people the opportunity to reflect on what they want from their living spaces.

“Whether it’s extra room to work from home more comfortably or access to an outdoor space, many people will have re-evaluated their priorities when looking for a new place to call home and this has been reflected in the interest we have received over the last few months.” 

Urban Union currently has a collection of properties ready to be called home at Muirton Living in Perth.

The Anderson and the Grant at Muirton Living in Perth are one-bedroom apartments perfect for first-time buyers ready to get onto the property ladder, with prices starting from £105,000. Featuring a bright open-plan kitchen and lounge, the properties also benefit from wide hallways, a spacious bathroom and built-in storage throughout, giving a real sense of modern living.  The development also sits close to a number of shops and offers good transport links for those commuting to Perth city centre and Dundee.

Key workers interested in buying a new home at the Muirton Living development are also eligible to receive up to £2,500 from Urban Union as a thank you for their help and dedication during the COVID-10 crisis. 

The Ross and the Adam at Pennywell Living in Edinburgh are one and two bedroom apartments available from £140,000. 

Located only a few miles from the centre of Edinburgh, the development is ideal for those who work in the city centre with good bus services to and from the area. With a selection of primary and secondary schools, as well as a wealth of useful amenities in the area, the development would suit young professionals and families.

At Urban Union’s newest development – Pollokshaws Living in Glasgow’s Southside – there are a number of apartments available, including The Stewart, a one bedroom apartment priced from £160,000.

In addition, there are three types of two bedroom apartments – The Glen, The Collins and The Monteith – all of which start from £175,000.

For more information on the properties available, please visit

www.urbanunionltd.co.uk

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support in North Edinburgh

Local organisations have put together a booklet listing mental health & wellbeing support services in North Edinburgh (see below).

If you need support call the new Community Wellbeing Helpline on 0131 332 8773.