Pennywell – Page 9 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Setback for North Edinburgh Arts

North Edinburgh Arts’ plans for McMillan Square in Pennywell received a setback yesterday when city ouncillors rejected their proposals for a community-led hub at the heart of the regeneration area.

North Edinburgh Arts plans had strong community support and Muirhouse Salvesen Community Council submitted a letter of support to the council’s Policy and Sustainability Committee.

Community council chairman Roy Douglas said: “Muirhouse Salvesen Community Council has not been consulted on this and the council have not consulted the community on their plans for at least a year, if not longer.

“The NEA proposal for the last phase of McMillan Square has had extensive consultation and their proposal has wide community support. We therefore support NEA’s community asset transfer bid and their exciting plans for the regeneration of McMillan Square.

“This will ensure visibility for North Edinburgh Arts and the Library, a good building which will attract people to visit McMillan Square.”

Despite community support – and the support of local politicians – councillors failed to back North Edinburgh Arts development bid for consideration under the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant scheme.

While it’s undoubtedly a setback, North Edinburgh Arts will come back and resubmit amended proposals. Board chairperson Lesley Hinds issued the following statement last night:

“Today we learned The City of Edinburgh Council Policy and Sustainablity Committee decided, at this time, not to submit the North Edinburgh Arts development bid for consideration under the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant scheme.

“North Edinburgh Arts is, of course, disappointed with this outcome. However with the positive support from Councillors and officers at the committee, NEA will continue to work in partnership with the Council and community to deliver a Community Hub, as the final phase for the regeneration of McMiillan Square in Muirhouse.

“North Edinburgh Arts is at stage 2 of both a Community Asset Transfer bid, and related Scottish Land Fund bid to transfer North Edinburgh Arts fully into community ownership, and to enable the organisation to lead on the development of a creative and community hub; much needed by the local community pre-Covid, arguably more in the period to follow, post pandemic.

“NEA has wide support with 96% of local residents consulted fully supporting the plans, alongside cross-party support from local, Scottish and UK elected representatives following briefings early this year, tabling our vision and full business case.

“The Busines Case, architect sketch, and development timetable will be presented again to officers and Councillors over the coming weeks, with NEA working to ensure the next report considered by the Council achieves a positive outcome, for NEA, for McMillan Square, and for our local community.”

North Edinburgh’s Food Share group updates city councillors

North Edinburgh’s Covid-19 Foodshare Group has written to city councillors to update them on the work of the local coalition:

Elected member,

Since the setting up of North Edinburgh Covid-19 Foodshare Group we have kept elected members informed of the work the community organisations, volunteers and funders have been carrying out in these very challenging times.

Attached is a newsletter which, by the end of this week, will be delivered, by volunteers, to 14,000 households in North Edinburgh. Please circulate this to any individuals or groups who will find the information helpful.

NEN_8pp_A4_MAY20_2

Over the past six weeks (20 April – 25 May 2020) North Edinburgh organisations have:

· Produced 58,258 Food Items/Packed Lunches/Packs

· Gifted 23,888 Food Items/Packed Lunches/Packs to other organisations

· Delivered 79,171 Food Items/Packed Lunches/Packs

· There have been specific deliveries for Milk, Butter, Vegetables,Toiletries and Fruit.

· Passion 4 Fusion are providing culturally specific foods for BAME communities in the area.

Of the 919 postcodes supplied by agencies, 582 residents lived in Deciles 1&2, which means we reaching some of the most vulnerable in North Edinburgh.

63.3% of Food Items delivered are reaching those who need it most.

Please get in touch if you want further information, regarding the work of North Edinburgh Covid-19 Foodshare Group.

Willie Black

Chair, North Edinburgh Covid 19 Food Share Group

Newsletter deliveries resume this morning

Volunteers will be hitting local streets once again today to deliver the NEN Coronavirus special edition newsletter across North Edinburgh.

An enthusiastic team of volunteers delivered thousands of newsletters across Drylaw and Telford, Muirhouse, Salvesen, West Pilton, Granton and Royston Wardieburn last week, and a final push will see the last of the newsletters delivered this week.

If you would like to lend a hand – full guidance and protective equipment will be issued – teams will be leaving from the following locations from Tuesday – Thursday this week:

Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, Groathill Road North at 11am

Fresh Start, Ferry Road Drive at 11am

Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway at 11am

Ainslie Park Leisure Centre car park, Pilton Drive North at 2pm

The newsletter contains helpful information and key telephone numbers to help local people get through the pandemic.

The North Edinburgh Covid-19 Foodshare coalition would like to thank our magnicent volunteers who have done so much to support the community dring these most difficult of times.

Thanks also to the following organisations for their terrfic support:

Funders:

Cash for Kids,

Inspiring Scotland,

North Edinburgh Community Councils,

Muirhouse Housing Association,

Pilton Central Association (PCA),

SCVO,

STV Appeal,

The National Lottery for Communities,

West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

Cairn Energy

Cramond FC

Edinburgh City Council

Lindsay’s Charitable Trust

Martin Lewis Foundation

Murray Foundation

National Emergencies Trust

Neighbourly Community Fund

Places for People Foundation

Port of Leith Housing Association

Queensberry House Trust

Richardson and Starling

Scottish Government

Stewart Investors.

Food, supplies and support have kindly been donated by:

Baillie Gifford, Chand & Co Group,

Edinburgh Academy,

Fettes College,

Mathieson’s the butchers,

Morrisons,

PrepTable Scotland,

Porto & Fi cafe,

Scottish Gas,

Social Bite,

Tesco,

TB McKay Energy Supplies

Investec

Neighbourly Community Fund.

We couldn’t do it without you – THANK YOU ALL !

Newsletter deliveries continue this weekend

Deliveries of the NEN Covid-19 Special Edition newsletter continue over the weekend – whatevever the weather! – and new volunteers are more than welcome.

Managed by members of North Edinburgh’s Covid-19 Food Share Group team, volunteers are delivering an informative newsletter to Drylaw, Pilton, Royston Wardieburn, Boswall and Granton.

Volunteers are given a route map and delivery instructions and are also issued with hand sanitiser, protective gloves and a contact number should they encounter any problems during the distribution run.

Meeting times this weekend:

Saturday 6th June and Sunday 7th June:

WEST PILTON / WEST GRANTON

11am – 1 hour delivering

Meet at Fresh Start, Address: 22-24 Ferry Rd Drive, EH4 4BR

Phone: Willie Black : 07515686421

GRANTON / BOSWALL

2pm: – 1 hour delivering

Meet at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre car park, 94 Pilton Drive, EH5 2HF

Phone: Willie Black: 07515686421

If you wish to deliver in your own time, call Lesley Hinds on 07778413792 or Willie Black on 07515686421.

Our thanks to the volunteers who have helped with distribution so far

Free School Meals: It’s not too late to claim

FREE SCHOOL MEALS

information for parents and carers

from GRANTON INFORMATION CENTRE

Families of children from P4 to S6 who receive Free School Meals, and those in P1 to P3 who are entitled to clothing grants, will receive a fortnightly electronic payment during term time and the Easter Holidays equivalent to the cost of a school meal.

Payments are £22.50 per child every fortnight until further notice from 23 March.

All children in primary 1 to 3 receive free school meals if they are attending school, but not free milk or a clothing grant. In the present circumstances, those families won’t receive the £22.50 fortnightly payment unless they are eligible to get the clothing grant and free milk due to low income.

The criteria is the same as for P4-7s.

IT’s NOT TOO LATE TO CLAIM

Parents may still apply for the current academic year and, if eligible, awards will be backdated to 23 March, the start of school closures.

The eligibility for free school meals and/or substitute payment (including P1-3s) depends on the family’s income and they need to be in receipt of one of the following benefits:

Universal credit (with monthly earnings up to £610)
Income Support and Income Based Job seekers Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
Child Tax Credits only with gross income up to £16105
Child and Working Tax Credits with gross income up to £6900
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Some families will get an automatic award for 2020-21 but others will have to apply when the time comes (they are not receiving applications yet).

Clothing grants applications closed on 31 March but will reopen for the next academic year later.

For more information and keep up to date with possible changes please visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/schoolgrants

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/food-clothing/free-school-meals-school-clothing-grants/1

North Edinburgh charities unite to deliver over 11,000 free meals during lockdown

Charity and community groups in North Edinburgh have joined forces to deliver over 11,000 free, healthy meals, toiletries and cleaning supplies to vulnerable individuals and families during four weeks of lockdown.

More than a dozen organisations have come together to form the North Edinburgh Covid-19 Foodshare Group, supporting those in food poverty or experiencing hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite launching only four weeks ago, the group has already coordinated community groups and volunteers to safely deliver a record number of healthy meals to those who need them most. It now aims to deliver over 15,000 meals each week, thanks to support from funders, donors and members of the public.

In just one week, more than 10,000 ready-meals and sandwich packs were delivered to residents in Muirhouse, Salvesen, Pilton, Granton, Drylaw and Telford, as well as more than 1,000 essential food, toiletry and cleaning supply kits.

A phoneline has also been launched to handle requests for assistance. Local residents in Muirhouse, Salvesen, Pilton, Granton, Drylaw and Telford can call 0131 356 0220, with the hotline open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

Due to high demand, the group is asking funders and members of the public to help them reach more people living in food poverty by funds. All money raised will go towards supporting vulnerable people living in Edinburgh during the pandemic crisis.

To ensure deliveries were made safely, 100 charity and voluntary sector volunteers and keyworkers were trained in Covid-19 safety protocols by Scran Academy to ensure everyone adhered to government guidance on physical distancing.

Willie Black, Chair of West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, said: “This is a truly remarkable effort. It’s a great demonstration of the power of communities pulling together, working in partnership to build a new future for north Edinburgh.

“It’s an extremely difficult time for vulnerable families and individuals across the city. They may have experienced homelessness, be elderly or socially isolated.

“Getting support out to them is our priority and we have been overwhelmed by the generous support of our funders and donors. But there is more to be done. We estimate that to meet the demand we need to deliver a minimum of 15,000 emergency packs per week.

“On the other hand, we are trying to manage our supplies to ensure we have enough to go around while this pandemic continues to affect us all.”

Residents who have already received packages from the Group have described the resource as vital for enabling them to feed their families:

Family from Muirhouse:

“My husband has lost his job, and we were 2093 in the queue to speak to someone at Universal credits, 14 hour wait, no money, no food. My health visitor referred us to Covid-19 Foodshare Group and they just appeared with food and packed lunches for us. I have never cried to see food to feed my kids, but I just have no money. They turn up every day with packed lunches and for the last three weeks a food parcel has appeared at our door.”

Muriel, elderly Drylaw resident. Husband in care facility:

“Many many thanks for your kind and considerate actions. To the staff, you have no idea, how your thoughts for older isolated people impacts on our daily life.

The comfort and solace it gives to us, when you are alone and can’t reach out to touch our loved ones is like winning the lottery, an absolute god send to me!

Thank you from the bottom of my Heart.”

Isolated resident from Pennywell:

“Please let the chef know that the mushroom soup was absolutely amazing and fandabbydozy!”

Family from Pilton:

“Both me and my partner are temporarily out of employment, with 2 kids at home. The first week we survived thanks to the kindness of a neighbour. I really appreciate the food packs and the different foods we are receiving now. It has saved us”.

Single parent from Granton:

“I want to send my appreciation first of all by sending you this message. You guys have helped my own household and my sons during this pandemic. I think we might have really struggled if it wasn’t for all the good work you guys are doing for the community, you are all amazing”.

Latest Info from North Edinburgh’s COVID-19 FoodShare Group

North Edinburgh’s COVID-19 Foodshare Group has updated their information factsheet to include more useful teleohone numbers.

The network of community groups expects hear to about funding to help meet demand in the local area later today. The fund is being administered locally by the city council and EVOC.

Final, Final! North Edinburgh Food Network Info UPDATED 17 APRIL 2020

Goodbye, Mr. MacKenzie: Craigie’s inspirational Headteacher has died

We are extremely saddened to learn that Hugh Mackenzie, former Headteacher of Craigroyston Community High School, has passed away after a short illness (write Craigroyston Community High School).

Hugh served as Headteacher from 1972-1993 and during that time, he was a true inspiration to both staff and pupils.

Hugh was determined to ensure that school was a place to nurture, care for and encourage the pupils as well as guiding them through their academic qualifications.

Hugh was a unique man who led Craigroyston on amazing journeys, always believing dreams could be achieved. Former pupils will undoubtedly have fond memories of the annual Craigie Field Trips around the UK as well as Craigie goes to Europe in 1992.

Our deepest condolences and thoughts go out to Hugh’s wife, Joyce as well as Callum, Kirsty and the grandchildren. You’ll be forever remembered, Mr Mackenzie – rest in peace.

Alex Wood, who taught at Craigroyston and has since returned as an adult educaton tutor, wrote of Hugh:

“I started at Craigroyston in August 1973. I could not have been directed to a better place to learn how to teach. Hugh MacKenzie, the headteacher, was inspiring, committed to comprehensive education, a believer that, given the right conditions, everyone could learn.

“He occasionally wore a suit – made of blue denim. A shirt and tie were for special occasions, but a polo-neck sweater and CND badge were more normal. We learned quickly and we learned well. We reinvented the curriculum for that new age as we went along. The committed, the imaginative and the humorous survived. Fortunately, I was one of them.

“I would go onto have a friendship with Hugh long after my time at Craigroyston, a friendship that continued up until his sudden passing. Hugh’s passions were golf, jazz & rugby & I could write a book about the stories he has told me & the ones I’ve learnt over the years from his friends, colleagues & family.”