Man dies after Inverleith flat fall

A MAN has died after falling from a window near Inverleith Row.

The incident happened shortly after 2pm – it is understood the man fell from a back window into a rear yard. Emergency services are still on the scene.

A police spokesman said: “Police in Edinburgh responded to an address in Inverleith Row at around 2.10pm after a man in his 30s was found injured.

“The Scottish Ambulance Service were also in attendance and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Enquiries are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding this incident.”

North Edinburgh to tackle dog fouling in new initiative

Environmental Wardens Team Leader Mark Bannon on a forthcoming initiative:

NORTH NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM

Dog Fouling Exercise 8 April -12 May

Introduction

This planning is well underway and involves SfC partners to address dog fouling issues. A partnership initiative approach will provide, education, multi-agency working and enforcement to target problems encountered in an effort to minimise this anti social behaviour.

Main Aim of this Initiative:-

To reduce dog fouling and enforce on those offending. Encouraging changes in public behaviour and attitudes is a complex and lengthy business. Who would have thought twenty years ago that most buildings and workplaces, both public and private, would now have implemented no smoking policies? This has been achieved largely via consensus between smokers and non-smokers. In order to succeed, anti dog-fouling policies must achieve that same level of agreement between dog owners and non-owners.

The North Neighbourhood Environmental Wardens, Community Safety Officers, Safer Neighbourhood Team and CCTV

a high visibility and low visibility presence from an enforcement role helping to create a clean environment for members of the public in our local community
patrol areas of local ‘Hot Spots’ known for dog fouling. Referrals will be made to the Task Force on a daily basis
take enforcement action against anyone found to be contravening the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003.

Mark Bannon

Working It Out helps MS Therapy Centre

Fourteen young people from the Working It Out project have donned their overalls and redecorated the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Therapy Centre in Leith. The centre, which offers practical therapies to people who live with MS, had appealed for volunteers to help with its first makeover in more than a decade. When the young people from Working It Out heard, they were only too happy to get involved.

Working It Out is a four-month programme run by Tomorrow’s People, which aims to instill confidence, motivation and offer support to unemployed 16 to 24 year olds in Edinburgh. Heather Law, Task Force Leader, Tomorrow’s People said: “Working It Out supports young people into work, training or education. We also work on various community challenges, so we were delighted to volunteer our services to help the MS Therapy Centre.

“It’s been a real opportunity to find out about the work the centre does and it’s great to know that the young people’s hard work will be appreciated by those who use it. Helping out with the redecoration gives our young people a real sense of achievement as they improve something in their community. We are all very much looking forward to it.”

Speaking before the redecoration began, Nancy Campbell, Operations Manager at the MS Therapy Centre said: “I am delighted that Working It Out has agreed to help us. It is a great project and I am sure that the young people will do an amazing job redecorating the centre. We are trying to create a more welcoming and therapeutic environment for our clients and volunteers and with the help of local tradesmen who have donated materials and the young people who are doing the painting, I am hoping to see a transformation! “

I think Nancy gor her wish!

Meet your community cops at Millenium Centre

New police drop-in dates for the Millennium Community Centre are:

Wed 3 April 11.30-1.30

Wed 17 April 11.30-1.30 and

Wed 1 May 11.30-1.30

Eileen Carr

Got time? Want a job?

The North Edinburgh News is looking for someone to help us put the paper on a secure financial footing. We would like to hear from anyone who is interested in a short-term contract to identify and contact potential advertisers and sponsors in the north Edinburgh area, who would be willing to advertise in the paper and thereby provide us with an income stream.

Previous experience is not essential, but would be useful. The main requirement is for someone who is enthusiastic, conscientious, well-organised, committed to supporting the voluntary sector and able to work on a freelance basis without close direction.

For further information, contact Martin Hinds at mhinds@blueyonder.co.uk or phone 07590 406 019

Boys’ Brigade is tops for training

The Boys’ Brigade receives credit for its top training course

King George VI Youth Leadership Training (KGVI), The Boys’ Brigade’s premier training course, is among a number of Community Learning and Development programmes (CLD) to be credit rated onto the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. The KGVI course has been rated at level seven, with 13 credit points.

Credit points are used in Scotland to give learning outcomes a currency and allow learners and employers to compare different qualifications. The number of points is based on the amount of time that an average learner should expect to take to achieve the outcome. It is also possible to transfer credit points to other programmes, such as university and college courses.

Alan Hunter, Training and Development Officer at The Boys’ Brigade said: “It is a great boost to receive this level of recognition, for a programme which has so much impact on the 17-22 year olds participating. The credit points represent significant value to those moving into further education.”

In 2012, a record 35 BB members took part in the KGVI course, which began in the 1950s in memory of King George VI. As part of the two year course, the future leaders, all aged between 17 and 21, attend two residential weeks at The Boys’ Brigade HQ at Carronvale, where they are mentored and visited by course staff members. The course includes training in child protection issues, leadership and drill as well as physical training.

Liam Boath ,21, is a current KGVI candidate and a fourth year student at Abertay University and is hoping to move on to Teacher Training. He said: “KGVI being credit rated is excellent because, it will help show to future employers, or universities, that we can learn new skills and apply them to our lives, not only to help ourselves progress, but to help those around us to be the best they can be, just like the KGVI course encourages us to be.”

Mitchell Kinnen, 17, is a sixth year pupil at Calderside Academy and is hoping to start University after the summer. He said: “Part 1 of KGVI helped me overcome a big confidence issue, which I have had since Primary School. It has helped me decide on my further education options and being able to get credit points for my uni application, is totally awesome. KGVI is an amazing experience and I have enjoyed every minute of it.”

Alison Chambers, former member of KGVI staff and Faculty Head at Moffat Academy said: “SCQF is being used more and more to measure achievement in schools, colleges and universities and now KGVI, what an achievement! Having the course on the SCQF scale allows cadets to use this as a focus point in personal statements, CV’s and job interviews. When asked about their rich KGVI experience they will now be able to say that the course is at the same level of Advanced Higher in schools or HNC in colleges. The experience of the KGVI course is very different to the experience of working towards an Advanced Higher or HNC but when it comes to a broad leveller, KGVI is up there at level 7!”

The Boys’ Brigade was founded by by Sir William Alexander Smith in Glasgow on 4 October 1883. From this one Company the BB has grown in to a worldwide movement and has worked with millions of children and young people. In Scotland, around 20,000 young people aged 5 to 18 take part in one of its 450 groups every week.

Council’s new property repair service begins next week

Owners of shared properties looking to organise repairs will be able to get help from a new Council service from Tuesday 2 April. The Shared Repairs Service will provide advice and information to owners through the process of organising repairs from finding a contractor to arranging payment. It will also signpost owners to other repair support services such as property factoring, property management agencies and mediation, and the use of legislative powers like the Tenement Management Scheme.

The Council will retain its statutory notice powers and will maintain the current 24/7 emergency service for urgent repairs.

An extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders last year identified that there is still demand for the Council to provide a project management service for more significant shared repairs. Options for this will be explored over the coming months, with a report expected to Council in about 3 months

Councillor Alasdair Rankin, Finance and Budget Convener (pictured below), said: “Maintaining the safety of Edinburgh’s properties is a concern for us all. Our aim is to find the right balance, based on the outcomes of the consultation exercise, with the Council taking a lead role in emergencies and providing support for non-urgent cases.”

From April advice and information will be available through the Council’s website, neighbourhood offices and libraries, getting in touch with the Council’s contact centre and by meeting with officers. The topics covered will include building inspections, working with neighbours, mediation, finding a contractor and arranging payment.

Cllr Rankin added: “This new service will be focused on our customers. Staff are receiving comprehensive training so that they can ensure property owners get the information and advice they need. We also know that there is demand from the public for the Council to have a bigger role in this area and we will be looking at potential options.”

The Property Conservation Service, which used statutory notices for emergency and non-emergency repairs, will cease operating from April 2013. However, work will continue to resolve outstanding complaints and to settle outstanding bills.

The new service was considered at a recent Council meeting, with councillors agreeing to a further report in the summer on options to expand the service.

Meet the Funders event in April

Meet The Funders 18 April

Is your community group looking for funding? Daft question, really – things have never been tougher for the voluntary sector. There are still some funding opportunities out there, however, and next month at the Assembly Rooms there’s a chance to meet potential sponsors.

The city council-organised Neighbourhood Partnership ‘Meet the Funders’ event takes place on Thursday 18 April from 1 – 4pm at the Assembly Rooms on George Street. An impressive group of funding providers will be exhibiting on the day, so if you’re a group looking for support this is an opportunity not to be missed. It’s completely informal and you can drop in any time – put the date in your diary now!

Money advice for free in West Pilton

Looking for free independent money advice? Then West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre is the place to be on Friday 12 April, when you can meet advisors from the Money Advice Service between 10am – 2pm.

This is an appointment-only service, so to book yours call 0131 551 3194 now!

Free Money Health Check Money Advice Poster

Bingo! Citadel play brings the ‘house’ down!

PORT OF LEITH RESIDENTS ENJOY CITADEL ARTS GROUP PERFORMANCE

Sheltered housing residents at Port of Leith’s Jameson Place and St Nicholas Court complex were entertained to an unusual play presented by Citadel Arts Group recently. ‘Bingo!’ written by retired engineer Alan Mountford, not only included a real game of the popular activity, but demonstrated how people can get quite possessive about the seat where they usually sit – especially when they are playing bingo.

The cast of Caroline MacKellar (Betty), Sharon Erskine (newcomer, Morag) and Mark Kydd (careworker and amateur bingo caller) treated the audience to afternoon of fun and entertainment.

Liz Hare, Artistic Director at Citadel Arts Group, said: “Citadel Arts Group gives older writers the chance to see their work professionally performed in a variety of settings including libraries, pubs, theatres, schools and centres for elderly people. We regularly perform for Port of Leith Housing Association residents who thoroughly enjoy our performances, but I think this was their favourite as they also got the chance to play bingo!”

Elaine Edwards, Scheme Co-ordinator at the Port of Leith Housing Association’s Jameson Place Sheltered Housing Complex, said: “Our residents had a great time. Many of them used to be keen bingo players, so it’s nice when there is something for them to relate to and get involved in.”