Corries legend to perform in North Edinburgh

Corries legend Ronnie Brown will be performing live this Sunday at a charity Rugby match at Fettes Police Station.

Police officers are set to line up against a team of Scottish rugby legends in a charity match arranged in remembrance of former officer Steve Cully, who died aged 41, due to a heart defect. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the charity Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland.

Officers from Lothian and Borders Police will take on a team of ex-internationals, including Scott Hastings, Doddie Weir, Gary Armstrong, and Gregor Townsend.

Steve, who was brought up in Belfast, was a keen rugby player who played club rugby at Murrayfield RFC, Edinburgh Wanderers RFC, Murrayfield Wanderers, Stewarts Melville FP, Edinburgh Academicals and represented Ireland U 21’s, Irish Exiles and the British Police.

Steve joined Lothian and Borders Police in 1994 and worked in a number of roles before fulfilling his ambition to become a firearms officer.

He called time on his rugby career in 2005, but took up long-distance running, and in 2009 he was part of a team of Lothian and Borders officers who took part in the gruelling ‘Marathon des Sables’, a series of marathons taking place over a week in the Sahara Desert, raising thousands of pounds for charity.

His love for rugby and charitable nature inspired his colleagues to organise Sunday’s match, which will be attended by his wife Rosie (39) and two children Josh (4) and Hannah (7).

ronnie brown corries — Ronnnie Brown wil lsing the National Anthem prior to kick off.

Sergeant Roddy Bainton is among the former friends and colleagues who have helped organise the event.

He said: “Not only will spectators be given the unique opportunity to see legends from the game in action once again, but there will be a whole range of family-friendly events, including a balloon race, prize draw, bouncy castle, an inflatable assault course courtesy of the Army, and kids’ rugby coaching, involving many of the former pros.

“We are delighted that Ronnie Browne from the Corries has agreed to sing the national anthem before the game, and The Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band will also be there to help provide the soundtrack for the day.

“I would encourage any rugby fans and their families to come along and join us for what is sure to be a great day, and help us raise money for a worthy cause.”

The match takes place at 2pm on Sunday. Tickets for the game cost £5, with free admission for under-16s.

And just incase you have forgotten the words we have included a video for you.

Tickets can be purchased in advance from:

First XV, 6/8 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5JZ
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, Head Office, Third Floor, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ
Or
Email: stevecullymemorial@hotmail.co.uk

Help catch these Millennium Centre thieves

Two thieves stealing cash and food from Muirhouse Millennium Centre have been captured on CCTV, and the footage has been posted on YouTube in the hope that the heartless robbers can be caught.

The incident happened last Wednesday afternoon, when the Centre – which is already suffering financially after a series of funding cuts – was visited by the two men. One of the men distracted a wheelchair-bound volunteer at the front desk, while the other sneaked into the kitchen and stole £155 from the locked till and a single packet of bacon from the freezer – despite there being another nine packs inside!

Millennium Centre staff at the centre have now posted CCTV footage capturing the theft on YouTube in a bid to shame the pair. The video appears with the message: “This is not a rich centre. The money that was taken goes towards running the clubs and paying the bills so the thieving scumbags should be ashamed of themselves – stealing from children and old folk. If you know him let the police know!”

Centre manager Peter Airlie said: “The older man started to talk to the volunteer at the front desk. He said one of them was just out of jail and they had thought the community centre was the housing association, as he was trying to find somewhere. The other one went through to the cafe area and took money from the till and bacon from the freezer. We really just want to see them named and shamed – they’re the lowest of the low.”

The men were then seen getting on a bus at Pennywell Road in the direction of Ferry Road.

One of the suspects is described as a white male in his mid-twenties, 6ft 2, of heavy build with short brown hair, clean-shaven and wearing black, thick rimmed glasses. He was wearing a light blue and white Adidas jacket with blue stripes down the arm and dark jogging bottoms.

The other man is aged between 40 and 50, around 5ft 4, with a local accent, of slim build, had a shaved head with a receding hairline and a “prominent chin, forehead and a weathered face”.

To see the footage visit:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUmwlPvT3i8 or go to YouTube and type in Millennium Centre robbery.

PYCP marks AGM with dance studio opening

Pilton Youth and Children’s Project (PYCP) are holding their Annual General Meeting on Friday 28 September at 3pm in The Greenhouse on West Pilton Place. This will be no ordinary, humdrum business meeting, however – Scottish rugby legend Chris Paterson will officially open PYCP’s brand new purpose-built creative dance studio at the event!

PYCP’s senior development worker LAURA McLAREN explains all:

Pilton Youth and Children’s Project

“The Wooden Spoon Studio”

Pilton Youth and Children’s Project are delighted to announce the opening of their new studio, made possible by a generous award from “Wooden Spoon”, the children’s charity of rugby. Wooden Spoon was founded in 1983 and is dedicated to helping disadvantaged children and young people across the British Isles live happier, richer lives. The charity comprises of over 40 regional volunteer committees, a central national team and over 10,000 members. All regional committees undertake many local fundraising activities and only spend the money raised on projects in their local community. During their first 25 years, over half a million young people benefitted from more than £18 million of charitable support thanks to the efforts of staff and volunteers.

PYCP have worked with Wooden Spoon since late last year, liaising with Charlie Bryden, Regional Committee Chair for Scotland. This resulted in a grant of up to £10,000 with which to renovate an unused room at PYCP into a multi-purpose creative studio. PYCP work with children from the age of 5 to young people age 18. Although staff have been able to offer short-term creative projects, it was felt by both workers and young people of all ages that a protected space with which to develop activities such as dance and drama would be really beneficial.

The grant from Wooden Spoon has enabled PYCP to lay special dance suitable sprung flooring and a large mirror so that young people can watch themselves practice dance routines. They have also been able to buy dance barres and a new sound system. The funding has also helped PYCP update their stage lighting, as well as giving the room a new look with fresh decorating. Children, young people and indeed the wider community are really excited about using the new studio; the first creative project might be a Christmas show!!

Wooden Spoon works closely with the UK rugby community, also involving some of rugby’s top sporting role models in making a difference in the lives of young people in need. PYCP were lucky enough to have Chris Paterson, MBE AND Scottish rugby’s record cap and points holder, to officially open the studio on Friday 28 September as part of PYCP’s Annual General Meeting.

For more information or a tour of the studio, please contact Pilton Youth and Children’s Project on 0131 332 9815.

Laura McLaren, PYCP

Port of Leith residents attend advice event

Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) hosted an event for its residents to provide information on issues such as welfare reforms and benefits advice recently.

Over 60 people attended the open day at South Leith Parish Church Hall where the Association was joined by the Department of Work & Pensions, the City of Edinburgh Council, an energy advisor, a money advice worker from Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Edinburgh Housing Advice Partnership and employability initiative Community Renewal.

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive at PoLHA, said: “There are a lot of changes coming and issues surrounding benefit, energy and money management for our tenants to consider. Holding this event with our partner agencies helped those who came along to understand how these will affect them and how they can make the pounds in their pocket go further. It was a great turnout and I hope people found it useful to help them manage finances in the run-up to the forthcoming benefit changes and the winter months.”

PoLHA was formed in 1975 and now owns and manages 2400 properties in the Leith and North Edinburgh area.

North Edinburgh Theatre's back!

Hello all wonderful North Edinburgh Theatre folk,

This is just a wee reminder [as if you need it!] that we start Workshops again at North Edinburgh Arts this Friday 14th September 6 – 8pm. and next Saturday 22nd September 12 noon – 2pm. We shall meet every other Friday and every other Saturday so that everyone can come to the Workshops according to their commitments. There will be a crèche for every Workshop, but please make sure you book it with Sandra beforehand 0131 315 2152 and admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk

We have so much to talk about, so much fun to have, so many plans to make, so much theatre to create – YIPPEE I am really looking forward to working with you all again. We also have some new participants to welcome!

Please let me know which Workshops you want to come to – Fridays and/or Saturdays. Of course you can come to both, we shall be covering the same material at the Friday and Saturday Workshops but you always create different work, so it will be really interesting.

In the meantime, if you have any questions please just get in touch. For those folk who do not have internet, please can you make sure they know what’s happening? I will also post this on Facebook.
Take care and see you soon!

Stephanie Knight
North Edinburgh Theatre project

North Edinburgh Theatre’s back!

Hello all wonderful North Edinburgh Theatre folk,

Stephanie Knight
North Edinburgh Theatre project

It's official – Edinburgh's blooming beautiful!

It’s official – Edinburgh is Scotland’s most beutiful city! The capital secured the top spot at the Beautiful Scotland awards yesterday (11 September) and will now go on to represent Scotland in the national Britain in Bloom competition.

Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Hinds (pictured below) said: “It’s fantastic news that Edinburgh has been recognised as the top city in Scotland for its green spaces. I was thrilled to meet the judges when they visited Edinburgh last month and I’m delighted we can now add another Beautiful Scotland City Award to the capital’s impressive record of accolades for parks and green spaces.

“The award positively reflects on all the excellent work staff do to keep the city looking attractive all year round. My deepest thanks must also go to all the volunteers and local community groups who have worked hard to successfully transform their local environments. However this is not a time to be complacent as we’ll now be looking ahead to next summer’s Britain in Bloom competition where Edinburgh will be representing Scotland in the national awards. Here’s hoping we can add a gold medal next year to our collection!”

It’s official – Edinburgh’s blooming beautiful!

Gala reflections

Following the inaugural West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala and the disappointing cancellation of this month’s North Edinburgh Community Festival at Forthquarter Park, NEN caught up with SEAN GARDINER, chair of the West Pilton event’s organising committee, to reflect on the gala:

“The committee has yet to meet, but as it stands we have reviewed feedback and the few things we have picked up on for next year is more bins, more ticket stands to avoid queues and perhaps something for older kids like archery, a paintball area or laser quest. All in all the event was a great success; there were a few people felt that some things were a bit pricey, but for everything that cost money there was a free activity too so in the Galas opinion, things that cost money are the individuals’ choice. Hearing feedback from the gala day suppliers I will say it seems that, even with prices not being suited to everyone, all our suppliers had a very successful day.

“With regards to the Forthquarter event , we were never and will never run in competition with ANY event in Edinburgh; our aim from the start was to host a community event for local people, by local people. I must say I was very disappointed to hear it had been cancelled, and with no real explanation either. Areas like West Pilton and Muirhouse have long had this reputation for being a rundown area, events like our gala and the Forthquarter festival prove ten-fold that the area is only as bad as some people make it. There are certain groups operating within the West Pilton and Muirhouse area that promote how bad the place is and how bad the way of life is, when in my opinion, all that really does is brings people down. A little bit of hard work and organisation for something like the gala lifts heads and spirits and gets people in this area – who would otherwise be walking round thinking how bad the place is – walking round with a buzz, talking about how great the gala was or what there kids dance group done, etc.

“I spoke to a man who lives in Pilton Drive North just yesterday and was told about a couple of locals from Pilton and Royston looking into the possibility of a gala in their area next year, so from what started as a fun idea, it has not only been a huge success , it has also inspired other areas to do the same thing. It can only get better …!”

Did you attend the West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala? What could be improved? Let us know!

Council spearheads drive to create 20,000 jobs

The city council is calling on its public sector partners and Edinburgh’s businesses to help support the creation of 20,000 new jobs in the city. An ambitious five-year economic strategy for Edinburgh will be launched at a conference being hosted by the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Business Forum this morning.

Businesses and other partners are being encouraged to join the Edinburgh Guarantee programme to give young people the apprenticeships and work opportunities they need to boost their job prospects. They are also being asked to get more involved in the city’s communities by investing in its social and community enterprises, act as ambassadors for Edinburgh and mentor new entrepreneurs.

City businesses are also being asked to share their knowledge and international connections with the Council to help attract vital new inward investment. Delegates at today’s event will be invited to contribute their ideas to help drive the strategy forward. The conference will be split into two sessions. The first will focus on outlining the national / local context and the second session will seek an endorsement from partners and will outline their role in taking forward delivery of the Strategy.

The sessions will be attended by business leaders including Lord Smith Chair of the UK Green Investment Bank, senior staff from Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh, Scottish Enterprise, Marketing Edinburgh, the Financial Times, Edinburgh BioQuarter, and Mama Tea. The Leader of the Council Andrew Burns and Chief Executive Sue Bruce are both speakers as well as Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities. Robert Carr, past Chairman of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce will compère the event.

Speaking before the conference, Council Leader Andrew Burns said: “Scotland’s cities and their regions are key drivers of economic growth for the nation’s economy as a whole, so it’s really important that Edinburgh’s Economic Strategy is not just owned by the council, but by the whole of Team Scotland. Edinburgh was resilient during the banking crisis and has bounced back well, but in tough economic times the last thing we want to do is get complacent. With huge pressure on council resources, we need to invest where we will have the most impact and closing the jobs gap is absolutely our number one priority. Joblessness creates major social costs for the whole city, and tackling this issue head on now will help us lay the foundations for a new phase of growth in Edinburgh over the next ten to 20 years.”

Sue Bruce, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council said: “The new strategy will help us to invest in people and in places, to provide an excellent joined-up service to businesses and to pool our efforts with partners. We believe this is the best route to help create the right conditions for new jobs. The vision of the Edinburgh Guarantee, that all sectors of the city work together to ensure that every school leaver in Edinburgh will leave school with the choice of a job, training or further education opportunity open to them, is of vital importance to the future economic health of the city. Focusing on jobs, engaging the whole Council in economic development and increasing collaboration with our partners in the city are all central to delivering our bold targets to ensure that we play a major role in boosting Edinburgh’s economy.”

Hugh Rutherford, Chair of Edinburgh Business Forum and a partner at National Property and Planning Consultants, Montagu Evans said: “No one partner or organisation in the city has sufficient influence to drive development of the economy alone, so it is critically important that we pool our knowledge, expertise and resources to ensure Edinburgh remains an attractive place to do business. We want businesses to work with us to get people in the city back to work and that means engaging with the Economic Strategy to ensure sustainable economic growth.”

Further information on the Economic Strategy

Forged in the wake of the banking crisis, the Council’s new Economic Strategy is the first to focus on the Scottish capital and the part it plays in the wider regional and Scottish economy. It follows the largest and most wide-ranging economic analysis ever undertaken in the city.

The ‘Strategy for Jobs’ responds to a widening jobs gap – rapid growth in the working age population means that by 2018 there could be up to 37,000 more people looking for work in the city than jobs available – and sets out a pioneering ‘Whole Council’ approach to address this.

The Economic Strategy sets out three key targets for 2012-17: to support the creation and safeguarding of 20,000 jobs; to support £1.3 billion of infrastructure investment in the city and to help 10,000 people into work or learning.

These objectives will be achieved through four programmes of activity with detailed action plans: investing in the city’s physical development; supporting inward investment; supporting businesses and helping unemployed people into work or learning.

Key highlights include the completion of Edinburgh’s tram project; maximising low-carbon opportunities with the arrival in Edinburgh of the £1 billion UK Green Investment Bank; engaging with a target list of potential inward investors in key city regions of the Middle East, China, North America and London; the further development of the ‘Edinburgh Guarantee’, a collaborative initiative with businesses to secure training, education or employment for every school leaver in Edinburgh; the creation of a dedicated new hub for business customers at the City of Edinburgh Council’s headquarters; and the creation of ‘Integrated Employability Service’ that will work with national agencies to provide a ‘no wrong door’ approach for job seekers across Edinburgh. Extensive public consultation was carried out from July to September last year on a comprehensive analysis of Edinburgh’s economy – The Edinburgh City Region Economic Review. This was the largest and most wide-ranging consultation on the economy ever undertaken in the Capital. Its findings underpin the key areas of action in the new Economic Strategy.