Fresh Start gets down to business

Resettlement charity Fresh Start has welcomed it’s first ever Business Manager as the charity goes through a period of growth. Joyce Clark takes up the newly created role with the Pilton-based charity, which works to help people make a home for themselves.

Ms Clark comes from a business and marketing background, with her most recent role in the third sector at Sacro, the national community justice voluntary organisation.

The new Business Manager role was created to help the charity grow as demand for its services continues to rise. Fresh Start’s board of directors decided at the start of the recession to promote a programme of expansion which has helped them to meet some of that demand – but the charity is still unable to help all those who need it.

Fresh Start provides a range of services: a Starter Pack service to help people with the basics needed to set up a new home; a Hit Squad service to help people decorate their new home and provide social support; and a training and employability service for people who have been homeless through its social enterprise in PAT Testing.

Keith Robertson, Fresh Start’s Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to welcome Joyce to Fresh Start in this newly created role as we expand and grow. Fresh Start has already come far from its roots, based in one of the member’s garages, helping just a handful of people in Pilton. But we are growing faster than ever before and we’re delighted Joyce is starting to help steer the ship in the right direction.”

Business Manager Joyce Clark said: “Fresh Start is a place where real tangible results can be seen in helping people to turn their lives around, thanks to the right kinds of support. I’m delighted to work with such a committed organisation and team – and look forward to helping the charity continue to support people to have a fresh start in life and develop ways of meeting the growing demand.”

Letter: public services paying the price

Dear Editor

Wage increases restricted to 1% maximum. Price increases averaging 3%, with gas, electricity and rail fares rising even more. This is not a one-off, it is a policy continuation over the last three years. Every working person is feeling the pinch, more so those on low incomes – in very many households the question of heating the home is decided by how much cold one can stand first.

Passing the cost of the colossal greed and mismanagement by the banks and financial institutions onto the people is bordering on criminal – especially as huge salaries and bonuses are still being paid to the people at the top, Their political supporters have been very busy making sure the people pay, but that is not enough for them.

They have also seized the chance to break up, privatise and destroy as many public services as possible – the very services, both local and national, that are needed more than ever. These services have been struggled for and paid for in taxation; they haven’t been given to us, this begs the question: how has the Tory/Lib government been able to do so much harm to so many?

First, any resistance had to be broken or diverted, pointing out people to blame, setting one section against another – those in work (‘hard workers’) against those out of work (‘layabouts’), people not on benefits against those on benefits (‘scroungers’), disabled people (‘shirkers’, or ‘work shy’). That so many people were taken in by these tales is a disaster, not only for the scapegoated but because every individual is under the same threat.

Emboldened by this success the Tory/Lib government felt confident enough to go even further and dictate how much space a hame needs (the ‘bedroom tax’) and in doing so giving the like-minded controllers licence to dictate, if on benefits, what people should or should not buy.

It is important every person listens very carefully to what is being told to them and why, and by defending others’ rights you defend your own.

The famous speech by Pastor Neimoller is really worth recalling:

First they came for the communists

And I did not speak out because I was not a communist

Then they came for the socialists

and I did not speak out because I wasn’t a socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists

and I did not speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist

Then they came for me

and there was no one left to speak for me.

Most people have one asset, the ability to work; when the opportunity to exercise this is denied it has disastrous consequences on individuals and families, made worse by destroying public services.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Last call for community councillors

Elected Representative CC Application Form 2013

Do you care about your community? Would you like to make your neighbourhood a better place to live? Well, there’s still time to put your name forward to become a community councillor – but nominations close at 4pm TODAY!

Indications are that nomination forms have not exactly been flooding in to Returning Officers in some neighbourhoods so far so it’s hoped that there will be a last-minute rush today!

Community councils are groups of people who care about their community and want to make their area a better place to live. Community councils give residents a say in how their communities are run by representing the views of local people on Neighbourhood Partnerships and convey these views to the Council and other organisations and agencies.

In North Edinburgh, Drylaw Telford was one of the city’s original community councils while Muirhouse Salvesen (pictured below), West Pilton/West Granton and Granton and District were formed to give communities a voice in new community planning arrangements when Neighbourhood Partnerships were introduced in 2007.

Community councils are always keen to hear from local people, and want more people to get involved in their work. They usually meet once a month, and in between meetings many organise and support local projects and initiatives that help the community or improve the area.

Get involved – get that nomination form completed and handed in today!

The inaugural meeting of Muirhouse Salvesen Community Council in March 2007

Do Not Adjust Your Set

Drylaw sees the big picture

Drylaw now has it’s own public big TV screen. The high-tech equipment was installed last night and community leaders believe the big screen will attract new visitors to the area.

A spokesman for Drylaw Telford Community Council said: “Although it’s not as large as we were promised we accept that money is tight and are delighted that the council has agreed to locate a big screen in Drylaw. Drylaw has really needed this for a long time – we don’t think it’s right that the city centre gets everything, Edinburgh is more than Princes Street, the Bridges and Lothian Road. Now local people will be able to gather together in their own community to watch major sporting events and Strictly Come Dancing – it will help generate a new community spirit and will become a talking point, a bit like the Angel of the North. I’m convinced tourists will flock to Drylaw.”

A council spokesperson said: “The City of Edinburgh Council is often accused of wasting council tax payers money on expensive vanity projects like education and roads. This exciting initiative clearly demonstrates that this council is listening to communities.”

Screening of “Happy Lands” at North Edinburgh Arts

It’s the General Strike 1926 – only seven years after the slaughter of the trenches, miners’ unions lead the country against savage austerity cuts handed to the nation by a Liberal-Conservative government.

Inspired by true stories from local families in Fife, the Happy Lands follows the journey of law-abiding citizens who become law-breakers in a heroic battle against the state. It’s never a good time to stand up for your rights – but it’s always the right time.

The Happy Lands is a Theatre Workshop Scotland Production supported by Creative Scotland through The National Lottery, in association with BBC Scotland.

Trailer available on Vimeo here: https://vimeo.com/73761234

Friday 13th September 2013

Café/Bar open from 6.30pm, film starts at 7.30pm (1hour 40mins)

Tickets £3/£2 good neighbours available on the night or by ringing box office on 0131 315 2151

Family fun days start up for the autumn

Community run family fun days are starting up again this Sunday, the 15th of September, between 1pm-5pm. Royston Wardieburn Community Centre (the big black building on Pilton Drive North) is open with arts & crafts, soft play, cookery, dance, games, sports, computers, Scottish history and more. It costs 50p per person to get in. It’s a chance to meet other people in the community and to have fun. You can pop in any time between 1 and 5pm. If you can’t make it this week, don’t worry – it’s on for the next ten weeks! Everyone’s welcome, including kids.

Get your thinking caps on

North Edinburgh Arts Board Quiz Evening

TICKETS AVAILABLE TO BUY at http://neaquiz.eventbrite.co.uk

20th September 2013
5.30 – 10.00pm
Dinner served 5.30pm-7pm Quiz begins 7pm
Variety of drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, to buy

With Quiz Compere – Nick Gardner
And Quiz Assistant – Joanne Stewart
Team Prize for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place winners
Raffle Prizes
Teams 4-8 persons
ALSO karaoke with Kim Edgar & Lissa McIntyre

£7 per person
(includes hot meal – meat or vegetarian and dessert)

nea_board2013@yahoo.co.uk
North Edinburgh Arts
15a Pennywell Court

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A COUNCILLOR?

The search is on for community-minded individuals who want to make a difference in their local area.

Nominations are now being sought for people to take up places on all of the Capital’s 42 Community Councils, which offer an opportunity for the City of Edinburgh Council and local communities to work together.

The first Community Councils were established in Edinburgh in 1980 in Merchiston and Longstone, and more than 500 people are now members.

They each receive a grant to cover running costs and training is available. They are represented on each of the city’s 12 Neighbourhood Partnerships and work alongside elected members, representatives from NHS Lothian, Police Scotland, the voluntary sector and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to improve local areas and to allocate local grants.

Anyone aged 16 years or older and registered to vote can join. Nomination forms are available here and the nomination period ends on September 23.

MUIRHOUSE COMMUNITY SHOP TO HOST BIGGEST COFFEE MORNING

Muirhouse community shop on Pennywell Road will be raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support on Friday the 27^th September. Between 9am and 5pm our volunteers will selling a large selection of cakes, sweets, teas and coffee.

So why not pop this date in your diary and pop in for a cuppa and a piece of cake in aid of charity.

In 2012 over 115,000 people signed up to this annual fundraising event and raised an impressive £15 million.

If you wish to donate a cake for this event please drop us an email muirhouseresidents@hotmail.com

DO YOU CARE FOR SOMEONE?

If you live in Edinburgh and provide unpaid care to family, friends and neighbours, you can have your say on how public and voluntary organisations can provide you with better support.

The City of Edinburgh Council has launched a consultation on its draft Joint Carers’ Strategy, developed in partnership with NHS Lothian, the voluntary sector and carers themselves.
The Joint Carers’ Strategy, and consultation, covers six priorities:

identifying carers – helping people who care for others realise they can get support
information and advice – carer training, advice, help with finances and benefits
health and wellbeing – emotional, social and practical support to improve health
short breaks and respite – giving carers a break from caring
young adult carers – supporting the transition to adulthood for carers
personalising support for carers – support that meets the individual needs of carers

The Council offers a range of support to carers, including a pilot scheme to provide a one-off Carer Support Payment of £250, which was recently highlighted as an example of best practice by the Scottish Government. The payment was made available to unpaid carers, adult and young carers who met the criteria, allowing them to spend some time on themselves to improve their health and wellbeing.

Another successful scheme has been the Carer’s Emergency Card, which was launched in November 2012. These cards are designed to inform emergency services that the holder is a carer and that someone depends on them. It also provides the names of people who can be contacted in case of an emergency. To date 258 carer’s cards have been registered and these will continue to be promoted.

Both schemes received positive feedback in a newly published carers’ survey, designed to evaluate these and other initiatives. The Carer Support Payment proved to be particularly popular, with 738 payments made to adult and young carers. 84% of people in receipt of the fund said that it provided them with the support as they intended and 30% chose to spend the money on respite or a short break.