Sun shines on MY’s Youthwork Games

Good luck to all the participants who will be taking part in the Youth Games over the next two days. The story:

Following the enormous success of My Adventure’s first ‘Youthwork Games’ inspired by the 2012 London Games, we are proud to announce that we will be hosting the games on 24th and 25th July 2013. **These games are targeted at youth projects to encourage young people not engaged in mainstream sporting activities to compete in a series of outdoor adventure sports and challenges.*Activites will include:***

Mountain Bike
Cross Country Run
Long Jump
Tree Climb
Assault Course
Archery
Swamp Soccer
Tug of War
Canoe & Swim

Contact jonny@myadventure.org.uk for more information

Foreign student assaults: three charged

Local police confirmed this afternoon that three youths have been charged with assault following last week’s incident near Muirhouse Millennium Centre.

NEN: Council, it’s over to you

Council support crucial if the NEN is to be saved

The city council must act to save North Edinburgh News, NEN chairman Martin Hinds told charity walkers before they set out on Saturday’s NEN Walkathon. He said that the council must decide whether or not it supports community newspapers.

The previous Lib Dem/SNP coalition administration ‘disinvested’ in community newspapers in 2011 but there was hope that community newspapers would be relaunched under the new Labour/SNP administration elected in May last year. The Edinburgh Labour council election manifesto promised: ‘We’ll back the re-introduction of community newspapers to strengthen the community voice.’

Since then, however, there has been little obvious progress. The city council’s own Outlook newspaper has gone, but support for NEN has so far been limited to grants from local Neighbourhood Partnership Community Grants Fund.

Speaking before the walkers set off from Edinburgh College in Granton, NEN Chairman Martin Hinds (pictured above) thanked organisers and fundraisers for their efforts but went on: “As long as I’ve been on the Board funding has been an issue and it’s particularly difficult now. The reason for today’s event is both to raise money and to advertise the fact that NEN is struggling”.

He continued: “To ensure NEN’s survival we can’t go from one event to one event to raise funds to produce another edition – we need to have some stability and ensure that adequate funding is in place to make NEN sustainable. We have tried a lot of different things to raise money – and the response from local organisation was tremendous when we put out an appeal for advertising for our latest issue – but we now find ourselves in a position that we must pass this back to our elected members, three of whom are here this morning.

“It’s really a matter now for the council to decide whether they want to support community newspapers or not. It’s a sombre note to end on, but the fact that we are having to do this demonstrates that we are in some difficulty”.

Labour councillors Cammy Day, Lesley Hinds and Vicky Redpath all took part in the Walkathon.

Forth Neighbourhood Partnership convener Cammy Day (pictured below) responded: “All three councillors here support the NEN and there are other councillors in this part of the city who also support the NEN. I would encourage everyone here today to lobby your councillors. There is an opportunity for us to fund the NEN and community newspapers across the city – there is a £50,000 pot of money which has been potentially earmarked for some work around community newspapers and media work; other councillors will be lobbying for that money to go to other areas in the city, so I am urging local people to lobby their councillors in North Edinburgh and tell us that they want more money for the NEN.”

He concluded: “The NEN’s a fantastic paper, well-respected and the only newspaper that tells good news about North Edinburgh. The Board is struggling to keep things going but I am sure that with the support of the local community and local members we can make it happen, but we won’t be doing that alone. So thanks for coming along today to raise some money for the NEN, but this will be continued – it’s clearly very important that we get a chunk of that finance allocation.”

The next key date for North Edinburgh News is 13 August, when the Board meets to discuss the newspaper’s future.

NEN board member Ann Confrey was one of the main organisers of the Walkathon. Thanking the organisations who opened their doors to the walkers, she said yesterday:

“Many thanks for all your efforts on Saturday, your support and participation was very much appreciated. The walkers enjoyed the mini tours of your facilities and refreshments were gratefully received.

Unfortunately there was a very low turnout with just 20 people (and 2 dogs) walking. As a result we fell a long way short of our target and at this stage it does not look like we raised enough to produce an August/September issue of the newspaper.

The Board members will meet on 13 August to tally up how much was actually raised/pledged and to discuss what options we have available. Thank you once again for showing your support for the North Edinburgh News.”

BBC workshops to help young people speak out

The BBC will be running a series of Free Speech workshops for young people in Edinburgh next month. The workshops, which will take place at the BBC Festival Hub on the corner of Marshall Street/Potterow from Monday 5 – Friday 9 August (not Wednesday).

The free sessions, which will run from 10am – 4pm each day, will be hosted by Tina Daheley and Rick Edwards.

The Free Speech workshops are sure to be very popular so book now via learningedfest@bbc.co.uk

Blooming good news for Drylaw florist

Drylaw-based Curcuma Flowers has been accepted for the Good Florist Guide (GFG), a web based directory of the finest florists in the UK.

The prestigious accolade is only awarded to florists who really make the grade and allows customers to have an extra level of confidence that they are buying from the best, and local florist Fiona Smit said she was ‘delighted’ to be included in the Good Florist Guide.

Each florist shop or freelance florist invited to be in the guide has to pass a rigorous evaluation process before being approved. This meant Curcuma Flowers had to submit a detailed description of their floristry business, including range available and services offered as well as images of the business premises, their design work, their team and even the delivery vehicle!

But GFG businesses aren’t just some of the best looking, they also offer the very best value when it comes to buying bespoke floristry and flowers because not only are they true craftsmen but have the very best product knowledge to make sure the flowers and plants you buy from them will last for ages.

Commenting on their success Fiona Smit of Curcuma Flowers said; ‘We are delighted to be accepted into the Good Florist Guide. We are passionate about flowers, design, quality and the service we give to each of our customers so it is wonderful to have this recognised.’

Caroline Marshall-Foster, the UK’s leading expert on independent bespoke florists, is responsible for setting up the Good Florist Guide. Editor of Florist magazine, the florist industry’s bible, and owner of Purple Spotted Media, a multi-faceted company providing services to all sectors of the flower industry, the Good Florist Guide is Caroline’s way of sharing the knowledge she has gained through years in the industry.

She said: “You can buy flowers virtually anywhere these days. But nothing really beats the experience of receiving fabulous flowers from a truly bespoke florist and without it costing an arm or a leg. The Good Florist Guide is my way of sharing all that is good about floristry. It allows consumers to know that the florist they use is able and willing to go the extra mile and make all their purchases, big or small, truly special.”

Innertube map goes green

Edinburgh’s unique Innertube map is now celebrating the launch of its third version – the Greenspaces edition.

This green map highlights the many parks and green spaces that are easily accessible by bike or on foot using Edinburgh’s amazing network of off-street paths, made up of old railway lines, canal towpath, the Water of Leith walkway, coastal promenades, routes through parks or on dedicated segregated paths. As well as linking to parks and open spaces, most of the paths themselves go through woodland, parkland or by the sea at Silverknowes and Portobello.

The map has been created on behalf of the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) in partnership with The Bike Station, by Mark Sydenham, the originator of the Innertube map concept. The map is part of the wider Innertube map project, a campaign to improve and promote Edinburgh’s 75km of traffic-free off-road paths, characterised by a London Underground style map. This latest Greenspaces edition of the map highlights 54 of the city’s 145 parks, which have easy or close access to the path network, and is designed to encourage Edinburgh residents and visitors to use the routes to walk and cycle to green destinations throughout the City, rather than taking the car.

The Innertubemap project was established thanks to funding from the People’s Postcode Trust, a grant giving body funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who funded this edition, and continues with a wide range of environmental improvement work along the routes, community volunteering sessions and guided activities, which are publicised on the project’s blog at http://innertubemap.com.

“We’re excited to be launching a green edition of the Innertube map and hope that it will inspire people throughout the city to take to the paths and explore the wealth of green networks, paths and open spaces that Edinburgh has to offer,” said Liz Stewart, Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust.

The map has been designed as an attractive, pocket-sized A7 format, which folds out to show the A3 map on one side, with useful information about environmental organisations on the reverse. The map will be distributed to libraries, community centres, businesses and other organisations over the summer and anyone wishing supplies should contact info@elgt.org.uk.

The Innertube map project continues throughout this year, thanks to further funding from the Central Scotland Green Network Development Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage, supporting environmental improvement and community activity work delivered by the ELGT, with a programme of free community events and activities, all of which celebrate the Year of Natural Scotland 2013.

The Greenspaces edition of the Edinburgh Innertube map, is the third edition of the map since its launch in 2011. This edition follows the publication by The Bike Station of the student edition, funded by SESTRANS and Edinburgh’s universities and colleges, and the first edition, funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The map, designed by the Hillside Agency, has already made a big impact, with over 80,000 copies distributed to date.

Have your say on Leith Walk proposals

Local people, businesses and other groups are being invited to a drop-in event to view proposed designs and street layout for the Leith Walk programme tomorrow (Tuesday).

The event follows a June meeting where local people and organisations strongly supported an enhanced design for Leith Walk as part of the Leith Programme to make the thoroughfare more pedestrian and cycle friendly.

Tomorrow’s event, at Nelson Hall in McDonald Road Library, from 2-8pm, will give local people and organisations the opportunity to view the proposed designs and discuss with officers the street layout for the Foot of the Walk to Pilrig Street and the Pilrig Street to Picardy Place sections of Leith Walk.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “The session follows a very productive meeting in June when the local community pledged their support for the project. I am delighted that these plans are close to being finalised and to complete our detailed consultation and design process we are now keen to talk to local people and businesses about the proposals.”

“As the construction work is being phased, with the Foot of the Walk to Pilrig Street section commencing first, we are aiming to have a finalised draft design for this section ready by the beginning of August. This will allow us to proceed with the required Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process prior to the work starting. We will also be displaying the Pilrig Street to Picardy Place section at the same time to allow local stakeholders the opportunity to comment on the emerging design for this section.”

“I am hoping a wide range of people attend and provide their views on all aspects of the project, in particular, parking provision and domestic waste bins, so please let other local people and businesses know about the event.”

Twenty walk for NEN

Around twenty hardy walkers – and two dugs! – took part in the NEN Walkathon on Saturday. The small but enthusiastic band braved sweltering temperatures to raise funds for the community newspaper.

The walk took off from Edinburgh College’s Granton Campus and visited a number of community projects – some of whom opened especially to support the walk – including Pilton Community Health Project, West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, Muirhouse Library and North Edinburgh Arts.

It’s not yet known how much was raised by the charity walkers, but although it’s unlikely to be enough to produce an August edition your support – and the support of those who assisted on the day – is greatly appreciated.

Thanking the walkers before they set off, NEN Chairman Martin Hinds said that the board will be seeking commitment from the council to ensure the community newspaper’s survival (report to follow).

Time to step out – it’s Walkathon Day!

Well the big day has final arrived and it seems the weather gods have smiled down on the NEN Walkathon – it’s not quite so hot this morning and there’s also a gentle breeze.

So walkers, the final check:

Sun hat?

Sunglasses?

Water?

Sunscreen?

~~Regal King Size?~~

Attending Betty McVay’s belated birthday party last night was perhaps not the ideal pre-walk preparation for me, but good luck everyone – and thanks for supporting your community newspaper!

Weather warning for Walkathon

Participants in tonorrow’s NEN Walkathon are being urged to put safety first as the recent spell of hot weather shows no sign of cooling down. Walkers should carry and drink plenty of water, wear loose, light-coloured clothes and stay out of the sun as much as possible – especially in the fierce heat if the midday sun.

Temperatures over the weekend are expected to remain high, with many places expected to reach 26 or 27 degrees centigrade – that’s into the eighties in Fahrenheit – so here are some timely tips for our Walkathon walkers:

Seek Out Shade

Direct sun can make the temperature feel up to 15 degrees hotter! Check your area to see if there are parks with trails through the trees.

Expose Your Skin

Sweat can evaporate more easily from bare arms and legs – wear plenty of sunscreen, even under your shirt.

Just Add Water

Wet your shirt, and you’ll have on-the-spot air-conditioning!

Ice Your Thirst

Freeze a half-full water bottle, then top it off as you head out. Take sips regularly while you’re walking. Six to eight ounces of water every 15 minutes should be enough. As an extra precaution against dehydration, weigh yourself before your walk and again afterward. If you’ve dropped a pound or two, drink up. You’ve lost fluid that is important to your body’s cooling system.

Try Sports Drinks

If you just can’t get yourself to drink more water on your summer jaunts, then why not try a sports drink? They taste good and supply less than half the calories of fruit juices. They’re absorbed quickly into the bloodstream, so you can walk farther and avoid post-exercise fatigue. If you don’t like the taste of a sports drink, you can also diluter your favorite fruit juice with water and take it along with you.

Cover Your Head

Wear a breathable hat (not a visor—it will only protect your face, not your head), and wet that too.

Switch Shoes

For warm-weather workouts, you need lightweight, ventilated walking shoes and socks that wick away sweat. Mesh is cooler than leather and dries faster when your feet sweat. Or try a walking sandal.

Reduce Friction

Be aware of areas where skin rubs against skin—between your toes, thighs, and under your arms—and apply a small amount of petroleum jelly or use Runner’s Lube, a nonstaining cream made from lanolin, zinc oxide, and benzocaine. It can be found in many sporting goods stores.

Listen to Your Body

Your body will tell you when you can push yourself, and when it’s time to coast. If you develop a headache or become dizzy or weak, stop exercising and head for a cool place. Drink plenty of cool fluids, and rest.

Walkathon Route Map 3

NEN Walkathon

Saturday 20 July

Leaves Edinburgh College Granton Campus 10.30am

Come and join us!

Mountain Bike

Cross Country Run

Long Jump

Tree Climb

Assault Course

Archery

Swamp Soccer

Tug of War

Canoe & Swim

Contact jonny@myadventure.org.uk for more information