Day: August 7, 2012

Return of the King

Edinburgh Elvis fans have an opportunity to enjoy music, rare video and memorabilia at a dance at the Taxi Club in Beaverhall Road on Saturday 18 August from 7.30pm ’til late.

It’s hard to believe it’s now almost 35 years since Elvis Presley’s untimely death –  but for members of Edinburgh Elvis, the official local Elvis Presley Fan Club, this will be a celebration of the great man’s life and music, not a wake. So get on your blue suede shoes and go party with The King!

For further information see the Edinburgh Elvis Facebook page or email edinburghelvis35@gmail.com

CORE to close

The Pilton-based Community Organisation for Racial Equality (CORE) is to close. Formerly the BCDP (Black Community Development Project), the project which grew out of the Muirhouse Anti-Racism campaign of the early 1990s will be formally wound up at an extraordinary general meeting in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on 29 August.

At it’s height CORE was one of the most influential community-led equality organisations in the country – growing from humble beginnings in a room in Craigroyston HIgh School to staging prestigious conferences in Edinburgh’s International Conference Centre – but funding issues and financial struggles over recent years has forced directors to seek closure of the organisation.

Chairperson Dr Fernando Almeira Diniz confirmed that CORE has been experiencing financial problems for some months, but said that the Board will not be making any statements at this stage. “I am sure that you will see that  we cannot do anything which could be regarded as pre-empting what might happen  at the EGM”, he said.

CORE’s EGM will be held at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Wednesday 29 August at 6pm. Following the formal business procedures it’s planned to have a general discussion – ‘an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of CORE /BCDP, followed by a Community-led discussion about ways of engaging BME Communities in developing future provision of public services in North Edinburgh.’

For further information, or if you plan to attend, please contact Adil Ibrahim at CORE, email adil@coregb.org.uk by 25 August.

Happier times: Director Tesfu Gessesse addresses CORE’s 2007 AGM

Council urged to ‘dive in’ to save Waterworld

Campaigners plan a springboard for success?

Splashback, the Edinburgh residents’ campaign seeking to re-open Leith Waterworld, will this morning submit a bid for a community-led re-opening of the leisure pool. Waterworld was closed in January and subsequently put up for sale by the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC).

Back in February, councillors postponed a decision on the sale for six months following the submission of a 6500 signature petition by campaigners.

The community bid, which comprises a detailed business case and offer letter, will be handed in by campaigners to council headquarters at Waverley Court this morning. the site.

Campaigner Johnny Gailey said: “Today we’re taking our community bid to the Council, handing over the torch to the Council. It is only fitting that, during this exciting Olympic time, the future of such a well-loved and accessible pool is secured for the people of Leith, all of Edinburgh and beyond. We are providing a proposal, a springboard, for a new beginning for Waterworld, and we hope the Council will take a leap of faith and dive in.”

Fellow campaigner Ida Maspero said: “We believe our business case and supporting documents demonstrate that best value – in the broadest sense, not simply financial – will be achieved by giving the community a chance to re-open this unique and much-loved leisure pool.”

The business case draws heavily on the results of an extensive user survey run by Splashback between mid-May and end-July.  The survey, which saw over 800 responses, is part impact study and part market research. It reveals the damaging impact of the closure in January, with 74% of respondents saying that they are now swimming less since Leith Waterworld closed.

Maspero continued: “Waterworld’s unique features – particularly its warmer water temperature and shallow beach area – made it particularly popular with parents of young children to gain early water confidence, and for those with disabilities to enjoy the freedom of water. The survey has seen a good number of responses from people with disabilities or their carers, identified by respondents as a user group for whom Waterworld was particularly important.”

One respondent wrote: ‘I attended Leith Waterworld almost every saturday and sunday for the last 5 years.  I am a carer for a young man with Down Syndrome and we loved coming along every weekend, sometimes both days.  Then I had my daughter 2 years ago and brought her every weekend too.  It is very badly missed!’

For more information on the Splashback campaign visit their blog www.splashbackedinburgh.blogspot.com or visit the Facebook page at www.facebook/com/SaveLeithWaterworld