Day: October 13, 2012

Eyes down – bingo’s back in Muirhouse!

by Robert Pearson

Over recent years we have seen bingo halls close over Edinburgh, many reasons spring to mind including the smoking ban. North Edinburgh’s nearest bingo hall – the Gala in West Granton – closed many years ago. At its peak you would see many people queuing outside to be first in to get their preferred seats. After the closure the area was left without any bingo facilities at all.

Well, this all changed last month when Muirhouse resident Jackie Brown -‘Big Jackie’ – heard of a new and exciting opportunity: Inspiring Scotland’s Link Up programme was in town and was working with individuals and groups in Muirhouse. Jackie and a few others met up with Link Up development worker Julie Crawford and plans were put in motion to relaunch bingo in North Edinburgh.

Speaking to Jackie I asked her why she thought this was a good idea for Muirhouse and greater North Edinburgh:

“Since the closure of the bingo hall in Granton years ago, it has been sadly missed by many. We would all go to the bingo and enjoy the game along with a good chinwag with everyone. When I heard of Link Up I immediately thought we could benefit from this. Julie the Link Up worker has been fantastic and made this all possible, given lots of advice and support. I really hope that we can continue to sustain our new bingo and that it runs for many years to come”

Development worker Julie Crawford tells me:

“ This fantastic idea of Jackie has only been made possible thanks to Inspiring Scotland and their Link Up programme, working very closely with Jackie and Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre I was delighted to see the first bingo game last month. Jackie is a very passionate about Muirhouse and will do everything possible to make this sustainable”

It was a nervous wait for the first bingo session to come, as often events are arranged in Muirhouse and the take up is not particularly good. Well, there was no need to be nervous as a fantastic 29 people turned in to the Community Centre to have their first game of bingo in years.

‘Eyes down and ready for your first number’ was called, the excitement was clear in the hall, these ladies were at home enjoying bingo in the heart of Muirhouse! “Bingo” – we had our first winner! Jackie had done it – the people of Muirhouse and North Edinburgh really were playing bingo in front of her very own eyes! Soon it was the interval and there was a positive vibe about the centre and women laughed and chatted with one another.

Due to the fantastic success of the first bingo, Jackie is pleased to confirm that bingo is here to stay – well, at least for the time being. She really hopes to welcome even more people this month.

Jackie and all the ladies who attended last month’s bingo thank all the staff at Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre, as without their support this would not have been possible.

Link Up Muirhouse is delivered by Muirhouse Youth Development Group in partnership with, and through funding from, Inspiring Scotland. Inspiring Scotland’s Link Up programme is supported by the CashBack for Communities programme. CashBack for Communities is a Scottish Government programme which takes funds recovered from the proceeds of crime and invests them into free activities and programmes for people across Scotland.

The next Bingo night is Wednesday 24 October, for more information: 07928 116 375

 

 

Timebank Temptations launch North Edinburgh Time Bank

Parliamentarians Malcolm Chisholm and Mark Lazarowicz and Councillor Vicki Redpath were among the guests at the launch of North Edinburgh Time Bank at North Edinburgh Arts Centre on Thursday (11 October). Highlight of the evening was North Edinburgh Time Bank’s very own choir, the Timebank Temptations, who entertained visitors with a very impressive a cappella ‘Lean on Me’!

The event was an opportunity to find out all about time banks – how they started, what they are and how they work – and North Edinburgh Time Broker Julie Smith (pictured below)put forward a strong argument for signing up.

Time banks make it easy to lend a hand to friends and neighbours. If you need help with a small job – or if you can offer help to someone else – join a Time Bank! A time bank means you can earn time credits for the things you do to help others in your community. If you can help someone weed their garden, or do their shopping or if you need a hand with wee jobs around the house – then join the time bank!

The time bank will help you to arrange it all, it’s free to use and there’s no money involved – for every hour you spend helping someone you are given a one hour time credit, which you can then ‘bank’ for yourself or donate to someone else to use. It’s simple, really – and you don’t have to sing to sign up!

For more information about North Edinburgh Time Bank contact time broker Julie Smith on 07807 002 591 or email north.timebank@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk

There are two more local Time Banks – Inverleith Time Bank broker is Anne Brown who can be contacted by email at anne.brown@ea.edin.sch.uk or telephone 332 6316, and your contact at sunny Leith Time Bank is Senga Armstrong. She can be found at sengatimebank@btconnect.com or telephone 553 2559.

For more general information about Time Banks visit www.edinburghtimebank.org.uk

 

Letter – kind Pilton kids help poor Roman feel at home

Dear Editor

It seems we are always reading stories about our local children behaving badly, and I am not unaware of the social problems that do exist in West Pilton, but I thought for once it would be nice to hear praise for our local kids, hence my writing to you.

I have lived in West Pilton for nearly 20 years now. I’m fairly well known to a lot of the neighbourhood kids, because I have always had dogs and am out in the park with them every day. I sometimes also have pink hair, which the bairns seem to appreciate! I have never, ever had any problems with any of the local kids, but recently I have come to appreciate them all the more.

I have two dogs of my own, and I have recently started fostering dogs for various charities based abroad. My most recent foster (probable adoptee!) has come from Romania, and he is just plain terrified of everything, but so very gentle, showing no signs of aggression at all. In the week and a half I have had him he has really gained confidence in the house, but outside is a very scary place for him. He is scared of traffic, not sure about other dogs, but mostly it is people that terrify him. One can only imagine what he has gone through to become so traumatised.

I’ve been taking him out for three daily walks though, as he needs to overcome his fears to become a truly happy guy. We meet a lot of children when out for our walks and many ask if they can pet my dogs, and usually this presents no problems. With Roman it is different. He is so scared, he flattens himself to the ground and trembles all over. But when I tell his story to the children we meet, and explain that he is so scared because people have been very mean to him and that he expects to get hurt; but that he is gentle and will respond to love and a soft hand stroking him. I can honestly say that without exception, the kids have been interested, saddened and willing to help, being very quiet, respectful and sweet to him.

I just know the more people we meet who can be this kind to him, it will not be long before he is a happy, bouncy, playful dog who will have learned to love life, maybe for the first time ever. So I want to thank all the kids who we have met, and all those we are yet to meet. And their parents, who have clearly taught them to be kind and loving to animals. Hopefully one day soon you will meet us in the park, and Roman will have the confidence to come up to you and thank you himself!

Jenni (by email)