Letter: Building barriers is not the answer

Dear Editor

I am writing express my anger regarding the proposal from residents of Silverknowes asking to brick up three access points leading to Muirhouse following incidents of antisocial behaviour being blamed on Muirhouse residents. While I disagree with vandalism and antisocial behaviour, blocking pathways will not be the solution to this problem. This could have the adverse effect on the problem. Unfortunately lots of this behaviour is happening all over the city.

I recall this same group opposing the building of the new Craigroyston High School close to their homes . What do these people want? A Berlin Wall within North Edinburgh? They are not an elitist group who can dictate what they want. The majority of people from Muirhouse are decent people who strive to improve their community and retain good links with surrounding neighbourhoods. Perhaps the answer is getting activists groups together within the neighbourhood to consult with each other . This could hopefully help to resolve the problem. Building barriers between communities is not the answer.

Anna Hutchison (by email)

Barriers — SILVERKNOWES EASTWAY ‘barriers not the answer’

Paralympic torch coming to Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s Blackhall customers will have the chance to see the Paralympic Torch as it goes on a special tour across the UK. Sainsbury’s Blackhall will welcome the torch on Friday 19 October, when customers will have the opportunity to see, hold and take photographs of the iconic torch between 1 – 3pm.

The Sainsbury’s Paralympic Torch Experience will see the Paralympic Torch travel to 400 Sainsbury’s stores across the country – the Torch’s epic journey begins at Sainsbury’s Bradford Upon-Avon and ends at the retailer’s Lampeter store on Thursday 1 November.

The Torch is one of 620 Torches used in the 24 hour Relay which took place from Stoke Mandeville in Aylesbury, the home of the Paralympic Movement, to the Olympic Park in Stratford, London on Tuesday 28^th to Wednesday 29^th August. 101 stores from other areas across the country previously saw the Torch ahead of and during the Games, and now the retailer – and first ever Paralympic Games-only sponsor – is extending it to the rest of the country.

Sainsbury’s Blackhall Store Manager David Bainbridge said: “We’ve really enjoyed playing our part in raising awareness of the London 2012 Paralympic Games in Blackhall. For our customers, it’s a once in a lifetime chance for them to see the Torch and feel the buzz of the Paralympic Games, which we’re proud to have sponsored.”

The local Sainsbury’s store is also responsible for another Olympic legacy, with two local high schools sharing in the success of the 2012 games thanks to donations from Sainsbury’s. The Royal High School received a donation of London 2012 sports clothing which they aim to use for team events, and organisers of Broughton High School’s recent Septemberfest were delighted to use Sainsbury’s London 2012 merchandise for prizes.

The store hope the donation will help maintain the positive momentum and feeling created by the London 2012 Games. Sainsbury’s Blackhall Store Manager David Bainbridge said: “Our colleagues and customers have really got behind all Paralympics GB and Team GB athletes and we wanted to celebrate the success of the London 2012 Games by providing The Royal High School and Septemberfest with a lasting memento of what has truly been a year like no other.”

Living Well welcomes new manager Sandra

Living Well North Edinburgh (formerly PROP Stress Centre) has warmly welcomed new manager Sandra Walkingshaw (pictured above).

Sandra said: “I am delighted to have joined the Living Well team as the new manager. I am really looking forward to working with all our members, staff and volunteers on continuing the excellent work that is currently going on and also planning for the future aims and goals of Living Well North Edinburgh.”

Living Well North Edinburgh are currently presenting ‘The Journey Within’, an exhibition of members’ arts and crafts, at North Edinburgh Arts Centre as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2012. The exhibition runs until 2 November.

PYCP happy to receive Wooden Spoon!

Scots rugby legend Chris Paterson was the special guest at Pilton Youth and Children’s Project (PYCP) annual general meeting on Friday 28 September. Chris was representing rugby’s Wooden Spoon charity, whose donation of £10,000 helped PYCP turn a little-used storeroom into an all-singing, all-dancing dance studio!

Unveiling a plaque to opening the new facility at PYCP’s Greenhouse, the record 109-times capped star said: “I’m an awful dancer with two left feet, but if I’d had something like this … well, I think I’d probably still be a pretty rubbish dancer!”

Thanking Chris and representatives of the Wooden Spoon charity, PYCP chairperson Clare Halliday said: “This really is a tremendous space for our young people to enjoy. The room has been transformed – it’s incredible to think that this was just a storeroom, more or less a dumping ground for lots of equipment. Many thanks to Wooden Spoon for supporting PYCP – we really do appreciate it.”

Young dancers from Edinburgh’s Dance Base were first to put the new Wooden Spoon studio to the test, entertaining guests with an energetic routine – Chris Paterson was not tempted to join in!

Some pictures:

PEP Talk

Pilton Equalities Project (PEP) annual general meeting will take place on Friday 26 October at 11am in PEP’s West Pilton Park office – and it’s time to get your nomination papers in if you want to be a director.

PEP is a community-run and managed organisation, with a voluntary management board, and welcomes nominations for membership of the Board of Directors from people who live in the community and representatives of local organisations who have an interest in the work of the project.

The maximum number of members of the Board is eleven, with a majority of members being elected from groups or activities associated with the Project. If more than 11 nominations are received in time for the Annual General Meeting there will be a vote at the AGM. A further four co-opted places will be available for those who have experience and/or skills which could be of assistance to the directors.

Interested? For further information call 315 4466 or email pepequalities@btconnect.com

Completed nomination forms must be received by Friday 19^th October.

Support Royal Blind’s ‘Glow in the Park’ at Fettes

Registration is now open for Royal Blind’s ‘Glow in the Park’ charity fundraiser in the grounds of Fettes College this month. Details below:

5.30pm Saturday 27 October 2012

The Grounds of Fettes College

Carrington Road, Edinburgh

Royal Blind’s Annual Children’s Sponsored Walk “Glow in the Park” registration is now open!

This year’s theme is Magic & Illusion, so magic something up to wear. And this year you could help us break the Guinness World Record for the “Largest Magic Lesson” so you too could be a record breaker!!!

What you can expect from Glow in the Park:

Event gates open at 5.30pm.
Free goodie bag & medal for each child
The evening will be hosted by a Forth FM presenter – who will help get us in place to set a new world record!
There is an indoor area to grab hot drinks and snacks
Take part in our toy raffle
Free glow in the dark face painting.
Magic activities around the route to add more fun to the walk.

Everyone must be registered before the event – there is a small donation of £5 per child, 3 and under free & £2 per adult. This is to cover the costs for the child’s medal, goodie bag and certificate and ensure all sponsorship money can go directly to our services we provide for the blind and visually impaired.

Click Here to secure your place, find out more information, see last year’s photos visit our event page now and register!

Click Here to see our sponsorship pack.

For further information visit www.royalblind.org.uk

Royal Blind

Donors urged: ‘give blood now’

Donors with Groups O, A and B are being urged to give blood as soon as possible. With supplies down to a three day level, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) aims to build blood supplies of these vitally important groups in advance of the October half term holidays.

Moira Carter, SNBTS said, “Although we are currently able to meet hospital demand we need to give our stock levels a significant boost before we enter the school holiday period. This year we are particularly concerned as we expect that more families will head off for some much-needed sunshine given the poor summer. When that happens we find that donor numbers fall by up to 20%. Specifically we are asking for all group O, A and B donors to make sure that they give blood in the coming days and weeks.”

Moira Carter continued: “Ideally at this time of year we would aim to have six days of each blood group. We are now asking all donors to come forward and rebuild supplies of these blood groups. Our records show that more than 50,000 donors have not yet donated in 2012. We need these donors to make an extra special effort to return and give blood now.”

SNBTS Director, Mary Morgan, said: “Blood groups O and A are the two most common, therefore they are the most needed by Scotland’s patients. O negative donors are uniquely placed to help patients when they need it most as their blood group can be given to anyone in an emergency. Give blood and be the type to save a life today.”

Edinburgh Blood Donor Centre at Lauriston Place is open from Monday to Saturday (see website for details or telephone 0845 90 90 999).

There will be two opportunities to give blood locally next month, with sessions at Blackhall St. Columba’s, Hillhouse Road on Monday 12 November and St. Stephen’s Church, East Fettes Avenue on Wednesday 28 November.