Letter: Unity

Dear Editor

UNITY

Unity is strength – this truth us demonstrated in the struggle to defend the NHS by both users and those who work in providing the services.

Those who are trying to privatise the NHS have a glint in their eyes of making vast profits – what a disgusting attitude, when every penny is needed to treat people both old and young.

Unity also needs expressing by people in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool, London – in fact everywhere, who have the same problems of needing regular work and wages and decent working conditions to be able to make life as it should be.

This unity of needs must be expressed as strongly as the unity in support of our NHS. Private companies aching to take over the NHS and other public services and their Tory and Liberal political supporters can and will be defeated.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Transport’s the theme for Inverleith community conference

On the Move in Inverleith

Transport is the theme for this year’s Inverleith Community Conference, which will take place on 15 November from 6 – 9pm in Broughton High School.

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership development officer Elaine Lennon said: “Our fourth annual community conference is coming up and this year’s theme is local transport in all it’s forms. We are formatting it as world café style with table discussions around themes of: public transport, road safety, winter weather, walking and cycling and road maintenance and we hope to have Officers leading on each table who are ‘experts’ in the subject.”

An evening of lively discussion, community cohesion, information sharing and fun is promised, so please tell your friends and neighbours about the event!

Organisers add:

On the theme of local transport, there will be opportunities to discuss issues and ask questions on various aspects of getting around Inverleith in small table discussions –

parking,
public transport,
road repairs,
road safety,
walking and cycling,
winter weather.

We hope that you can join us in person or live on twitter on the night, by following #inverleithconf

A finger buffet and live entertainment will be provided, and transport related stalls and information will be available for browsing.

You can book your place online through the Eventbrite website, but if you prefer to register off-line, or want more information, please contact Anne Brown on 332 6316, anne.brown@ea.edin.sch.uk or Elaine Lennon on 529 5270, elaine.lennon@edinburgh.gov.uk

Poppy Appeal launched

Susan Boyle launched the 2012 Poppy Appeal in Glasgow today, and people all over the country are being urged to dig deep to support ex-servicemen and their families. The launch is also the culmination of another year of hard work for the locally-based Lady Haig Poppy Factory – staff at Warriston have produced five million poppies for this year’s appeal.

Poppyscotland, the charity which runs the appeal, uses all the money raised to support Scotland’s ex-service members and their families. Last year a record-breaking £2.68m was raised during the Scottish poppy appeal, and the charity hopes to top that total this year – despite the ongoing economic gloom.

Ian McGregor, chief executive of Poppyscotland, said: “These are hard times. We know that the Scottish public has been tremendously supportive of our work in the past. We know we’re asking a lot, but we’re saying please can we increase that sum because the need is still there. It won’t go away. We have to be there for the long haul to support the Armed Forces and veterans community in Scotland.”

Around five million poppies and 8,000 wreaths are hand-assembled by 40 veterans with disabilities every year at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, which are then distributed across Scotland by about 10,000 volunteers.

The Lady Haig Poppy Factory has always had an association with North Edinburgh, and is now based in Warriston Road. The organisation’s website explains:

‘The original Lady Haig Poppy Factory was opened in March 1926, employing men who had been disabled during World War 1 to make poppies for Scotland. We moved into the Warriston Road factory in 1965 and currently have a work force of 40 ex-Servicemen, the large majority of whom are registered disabled. While we are a commercial organisation, we are also a charity that provides dignity through work. Many of our workers have been with us for many years and there is a palpable feeling of the military about the place that provides a comfortable and secure atmosphere, for both visitors and workers alike. We work hard to ensure it remains primarily a happy and productive place.

As well as the five million poppies that are handmade each year, we also produce over 8,000 wreaths to order. We process over 25,000 collection tins and make up and dispatch orders to Poppy Appeal Area Organisers all over Scotland. We also make crosses for the Gardens of Remembrance and long stemmed poppies, for sale to the public via the factory.’

Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory also offers a comprehensive picture framing service and factory tours can also be arranged – although they are fully booked for this year. To book a slot for 2013 call Jackie Connolly on 550 1573 or email through the charity’s website at www.ladyhaigspoppyfactory.org.uk

Local groups to take bins fight to Council doorstep

Two local tenants groups are to take their protest over bin collection changes right to the council’s door – literally. Tenants and Residents in Pilton and recently-formed Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse will be dumping black bags at the North Neighbourhood Office in West Pilton Gardens on Monday morning.

A spokesperson for the groups said: “We are taking action against the chaos caused by the Council’s mismanagement of the changes to refuse collection. Many residents don’t have recycling bins yet, and some areas don’t even have enough green wheelie bins. It has led to rubbish piling up in our streets, and we have told the Council that they need to sort this situation out. However, the Council is not listening to residents concerns so we are forced to take further action.”

The groups are inviting local residents to join the protest outside the Local Office at 9.30 on Monday morning – and encourage them to bring a few bags of rubbish of their own to dump outside the office.

There’s no doubt changes introduced to refuse collection – particularly the move to fortnightly bin pickups – has angered many residents, but after initial ‘teething problems’ the new system has settled down and that the sight (and smell) of piles of uncollected refuse is over. Improving? Not so, say the protest group.

TRIP secretary Jon Black, one of the protest organisers, said: “Every week bins are overflowing, and the situation is getting worse not better. We demand that the council re-introduce weekly collections until people have received their recycling bins, and recycling rates are improved. We want the council to clear up all the rubbish that has been missed in our area.”

Councillor Lesley Hinds is convener of the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee. She said that fortnightly collections were introduced to encourage households to use recycling services available and reduce the amount of rubbish being sent to landfill.

She added: “In Muirhouse and Pilton, recycling advisers have been down twice in the last few months to speak to residents and will continue to do so in the coming months. After discussion with the local community we are looking to put in more recycling points in an effort to encourage more recycling, but people must take responsibility for the amount of waste they produce. I know there have been issues with the implementation of the new service and we need to get that right first, but I hope everyone agrees with what we are trying to achieve.”

What’s your view? Is the system improving or is the council talking rubbish?

Let us know!

Send us your pictures

Free movies in Muirhouse

Looking for something to do with the kids on Saturdays?

Well look no further, North Edinburgh Arts and Link Up Muirhouse are to host free family film days. Starting Saturday 3 November from 12.30 you’re welcome to come along and enjoy the film of the day in North Edinburgh Arts Centre’s fantastic cinema!

Films will be shown from 1pm, but children are more than welcome to arrive early and purchase goodies for the film from the tuck-shop. When the film finishes everyone is welcome to head into the library as they staff will be holding a film relevant fun session.

Sat 3^rd November – 1pm Top Cat

Sat 10^th November – 1pm The Muppets

Sat 17^th November – 1pm Shrek 4

Sat 24^th November – 1pm Brave

These films are totally free and we hope to see many families enjoying them, Parents and carers are more than welcome to come to the Arts centre if they wish and sit in the modern café area whilst younger children watch the film.

So rather than spend time on the streets when it’s cold and miserable why not come to the centre and enjoy the film?

More information please call in to the Arts centre or telephone: 0131 315 2151 or visit www.muirhouseresidents.org.uk/

Robert Pearson

Use I.T. free with Digital Skills Academy

Roxana Ghita, Project Coordinator at the Digital Skills Academy, shares information about free computer courses:

“Our free Use I.T. courses aim to support unemployed people in Edinburgh. The Digital Skills Academy’s Use I.T. programme offers basic IT training for unemployed people. It has been developed by Cre8te Opportunities in collaboration with City of Edinburgh Council and Job Centre Plus to address a gap in IT skills. I have given below some information that explains what the programme is about. Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Who is it aimed at?

The programme is aimed at people who have been unemployed for up to 1 year and who lack the basic skills needed for today’s job market.

It offers a combination of 2 key modules:

Based on Microsoft Standard Digital Literacy course it offers an introduction to the computing environment covering basic IT skills.
Practical job search skills for job hunting including use of job search engines, online CVs, online network, social networking and application forms

What is involved?

5 sessions lasting approximately 3 hours
Individuals can complete the course at their own pace
Self-study between sessions if wished
People can join at any point – roll on/roll off
Assessment is made of their current skills
Action plan is formed to make sure the key skills areas are covered
Delivered in a group setting
Receive 1 to 1 support from an IT Trainer

Qualifications?

Clients will have the opportunity to sit a 30 question Microsoft certificated test. However, all progress will be recorded and acknowledged.

Where and When?

Delivered in existing CEC Community Learning and Developing venues in locations across Edinburgh. Courses are available on weekdays, morning or afternoon.

Referrals

It is easy to refer people on – just phone me on 0131 661 888 and I can make a booking there and then.

Also visit our website at www.digitalskillsacademy.org.uk

and see leaflet for details:

Not sosobad – fans out in force for Fairtrade Football

Staff, students, friends and family came out in force to support a first of its kind Fairtrade Football tournament at the new EdinburghCollege on 11 October.

Twelve five-a-side teams made up of staff and students came together to raise awareness of the fair-trade movement – and raised over £300 which will go towards environmental projects happening both in and around the college.

The money raised at this tournment will contribute to prizes for the Green Dragons Den project, which will be held next year and will encourage students to come up with green innovations and then present them in front of real live ‘dragons’.

Sean McDonagh, Learner Development Tutor at Edinburgh College. organised the event. He said: “The support from the staff and students for this event was simply fantastic and it really helped create a real awareness of what the fair trade movement is all about – equality and working together.

“There was a real feeling of camaraderie, experienced by all teams throughout the duration of the day and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part and donated.”

The Scottish Fairtrade Forum donated Fairtrade footballs to the college and Street Soccer also helped out by providing referees on the day. The event is part of Edinburgh Colleges’ overall aim to achieve Fairtrade status.

The winning team on the day was Real Sosobad, who scored 14 goals and took home the Edinburgh College Cup trophy.

Martin Rhodes, Director of the Scottish Fairtrade said: “A lot of the equipment that’s produced for sport is made in sweat shops, usually by children in very poor, in fact, brutal conditions. One of the things that we want to develop is more links between sporting events and the fairtrade movement.”

EdinburghCollege has a clear commitment to supporting and encouraging environmental and sustainable practices and offers and encourages the use of fair-trade products across all of its four campuses.

NENgage – Learn how to do online fundraising

This Thursday we will be holding our fifth NENgage workshop, all about online fundraising. We’ll be hearing from two experienced fundraisers, Mark Cooper and Peggy Hughes, and learning lots about the different tools which you can use, and the best strategies for hitting your targets.

Click here to find out more and to book a place! The session runs from 5:45 to 7:30pm at Stockbridge Library, is open to community groups and active local citizens who live and work in Inverleith.

There are lots of different tools available to raise funds for projects on the internet – Just Giving, BT My Donate or Virgin Money Giving for registered charities – Kickstarter, We Fund and Indiegogo for creative projects, and specialist sites like Start Some Good and People Fund it for social enterprises. How can even raise money for charity by shopping online, using sites like Give As You Live.

Online donations can be a exciting way to raise money. An online campaign can reach new supporters that traditional fundraising efforts won’t reach – particularly younger supporters. It also raises more than money – it can raise the profile of an organisation too.

It’s also efficient and transparent – the money goes straight into your charities bank account, so there’s no need to deal with and gather cash donations or cheques. People can donate online, or even by text message from their mobile phone, use tools such as JustTextGiving.

A small but growing percentage of charitable giving in the UK is made by online donations – the percentage nearly doubled between 2008 and 2010 from 4% to 7%, and that proportion is likely to rise, so it’s worth learning how these tools work.

But before we get carried away, it’s important to remember that it still takes hard work and effort to run a successful online fundraising campaign. You have to have a plan. You’ll need to write about your project, share pictures and you may need to make a short video explaining what you are hoping to achieve and why to encourage people to give.

You’ll need to drive traffic towards the donations page, using social media tools like Facebook and Twitter. You’ll need to thank and perhaps reward people for giving to your cause – a lot of crowd-funding campaigns offer a sliding scale of rewards for people who give the most.

So, it’s not necessarily an easy option, and you certainly shouldn’t ditch your traditional fundraising efforts – but it is another useful tool for community groups to raise money, and their profile, and one that is sure to get increasingly popular.

Focus falls on over-fifties at West Pilton

The spotlight falls on the seniors next month when West Pilton will be celebrating older people with a series of social and information events for the over fifties at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.

Tuesday 6 November 10.30am – 12.30pm: Fun and Fitness

Come along for some fun and fitness, followed by a light lunch provided by the Centre.

Thursday 8 November 1 – 3pm: Information Sessions

Get up to date information on energy efficiency

Have a basic health check

Find out about benefits you may be entitled to (with Granton Information Centre)

Meet your local Councillors

Learn about personal safety from community police officers

And enjoy a buffet lunch courtesy of the Centre!

Friday 9 November 12 – 4pm: Afternoon Social

Join in with dancing and singing to 50’s, 60’s and 70’s music

Play a game of Bingo or just enjoy the company and entertainment

A buffet lunch will be provided by the Centre.

For further information telephone 551 3194.

What’s The Matter?

Well, The Matter is a new way for young people to tell their councils and governments what they think about issues that concern them and a group of local teenagers unveiled the first edition of a new publication and presented their findings at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre last night.

Commissioned by the Total Craigroyston initiative, six young people from North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum spent six manic weeks researching, consulting, interviewing, writing and producing their very own newspaper – The Matter – to articulate younger people’s views on how their voices can be heard in the Forth community planning process.

And what were their findings? Well, you’ll have to wait for those – the young people have clearly developed a taste for journalism so they are going to write an article about The Matter themselves for the NEN. Watch this space!

The Matter is supported by design agency Snook in partnership with Young Scot and Firstport, who support new and emerging social entrepreneurs in Scotland.