Day: September 16, 2014

Westminster pledges more powers if Scotland says NO

Unionists are ‘Desperate’, says Yes Scotland

Record front pageThe leaders of the three main Westminster parties have signed a “vow” for more powers for Scotland if it rejects independence. David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg have signed the letter which appears on the front page of today’s Daily Record. However Yes Scotland leaders have dismissed the move and say that only a vote for independence on Thursday can secure for Scotland the powers it needs to create jobs, save the health service and build a better society.

The Westminster leaders’ pledge promises ‘extensive new powers” for the Scottish Parliament’ delivered by the process and to the timetable agreed’ by the three parties – ‘devo max’ by any other name.

love scotland vote noLast week former prime minister Gordon Brown – who has taken an increasingly prominent role in the Better Together campaign – set out his proposed schedule for new powers to be transferred to Holyrood. He said three guarantees in particular must be locked in: to guarantee new powers to the Scottish Parliament, to guarantee fairness to Scotland and to guarantee the power to spend more on the NHS if that is the wish of Scottish people.

The unionist party leaders in Scotland then jointly endorsed the timetable for the new transfer of powers from Westminster to Holyrood, and this was followed by today’s Cameron, Clegg and Miliband ‘vow’ .

In their ‘Promise to Scotland’ letter, the party leaders say they agree that “the UK exists to ensure opportunity and security for all by sharing our resources equitably across all four nations”.

The joint letter also states: “And because of the continuation of the Barnett allocation for resources and the powers of the Scottish Parliament to raise revenue, we can state categorically that the final say on how much is spent on the NHS will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.”

YES scotlandHowever independence supporters have dismissed the Westminster leaders’ ‘promise to Scotland’ as ‘desperate’.

Alex Salmond said he did not believe the letter would persuade the people of Scotland to reject independence, and a Yes Scotland spokesman said: “It’s clear that Project Panic is willing to say anything in the last few days of the campaign to try to halt the Yes momentum – anything except what new powers, if any, they might be willing to offer.

“The reality is that the only way to guarantee Scotland gets all the powers we need to create jobs and protect our NHS is with a Yes vote on Thursday – so that we can use our enormous wealth to create a better and fairer country.”

It’s more than likely that there will be yet more twists and turns, one last throw of the dice, as Thursday approaches. The latest Panelbase poll shows Better Together on 47% , Yes Scotland on 46% and – crucially – 7% undecided. It really is down to the wire.

Craigie Amateurs call for community support

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Craigroyston Amateurs is your local adults football team, based in Craigroyston Boys Club on Muirhouse Parkway.
We currently have 19 registered players and play in the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association (LEAFA) Edinburgh Central League. So far this season we have played five games and our stats sit at four wins and a draw, and we have upcoming games in the East of Scotland Cup and The Scottish Cup.
What we would like is to get the whole area behind our guys – build a following, so to speak – so if you have a spare afternoon on a Saturday and enjoy a good game of football, come along and support your newest and freshest amateur team in the area!
The club also has teams at age levels from 08s to 00s …
Check out our website for more details
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Places still available for PEP’s minibus training

Accredited Minibus Training (MiDAS)

limited places still available for Thursday 16 October

PEPvanPilton Equalities Project (PEP) is registered with the Community Transport Association funded through the City of Edinburgh Council and recognised as the community transport operator for the North Edinburgh quadrant. We are a partner of the Edinburgh Community Transport Operators Group (ECTOG)   PEP, Dove Transport, SEAG, LCTS, & Handicabs.

MiDAS is the nationally recognised Minibus Driver Awareness training Scheme, organised by the Community Transport Association U.K. (CTA) which promotes a nationally recognised standard for the assessment and training of minibus drivers. It is a membership based scheme that is designed to enhance minibus driving standards and promote the safer operation of minibuses.

It comprises low cost classroom-based training, plus an on-road driving assessment, as well as optional Passenger Assistance training (PAT’s) for drivers who will be transporting passengers with disabilities.

Criteria: a) Aged over 21 years, and (b) Held a full Driving Licence for 2 years. 

As places are limited, for further information on any of our courses call our trainer

Theodora Hidalgo on 0131 315 4466 or email:

pepequalities@btconnect.com

theopepequalities@hotmail.co.uk    

PEP ahas ten accessible minibuses and applies a good practice model ensuring the Health & Safety of its passengers

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Community Connecting …

… and coffee in Corstorphine!

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What is Community Connecting?

Community Connecting is a free service for anyone aged over 65 living in the South East or North West areas of Edinburgh. Normally lasting for up to 16 weeks, Community Connecting could help you get out of the house more, take up a new activity or hobby, or even rekindle an interest in an old pastime.

There are many things which can make us less confident about going out or keeping involved in activities. Periods of ill health, changes in circumstance or bereavement can affect our self confidence and cause us to stop doing things we once enjoyed. Sometimes all it takes is a helping and encouraging hand to get back out there and enjoy activities and interests. Community Connecting can help you do this.

We take referrals from health professionals, social workers and community organisations, as well as family, friends, neighbours and self-referrals.

How does it work?

A Community Connector will visit you where you feel comfortable and help you plan what you would like to do in the community.  It might be joining a new group, regaining the confidence to use public transport, a walking aid or wheelchair, to access local facilities or to take up a new interest – anything that you feel you can achieve in 16 weeks.

Your Community Connector will then match you with a fully-trained volunteer who will help support you to meet your personal goals for up to 16 weeks. Your volunteer will visit at least once a week and your Community Connector will be in regular contact to offer guidance on achieving your goals.

Offering a personalised service, Community Connecting emphasises independence and control over your own life. This is proven to help maintain a person’s physical and mental health – as well as that of their family, friends and carers.

Contact us

If you feel that you or anyone you know could benefit from this free service, please contact 0131 558 3728 or email: 

community.connecting@placesforpeople.co.uk

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 Community Connecting is a partnership between Places for People Scotland Care and Support and Volunteer Centre Edinburgh

 And that coffee in Corstorphine …

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Opponents must put differences aside to tackle poverty

Whatever the result of Thursday’s vote, Scotland will still have deep social problems to address and campaigners are urging both sides in the referendum debate to unite to tackle poverty.

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As the referendum campaign enters its final few days the Poverty Alliance has called on all sides to maintain the passion and commitment that has been shown through the campaign and to turn it to finding lasting solutions to poverty and inequality in Scotland.

Throughout the referendum campaign issues of poverty and social justice have been central to the debates. Whether on issues of food poverty, low pay, unemployment or child poverty, all sides have stated that they are committed to making real change to create a more socially just Scotland.

On 19 September politicians and activists from both campaigns must begin to find ways of working together to bring people together and tackle poverty.

The referendum has shown that not only is there an appetite for social change, but that more people than ever want their voices to be heard. With more than 100,000 people registering to vote in the last month alone, we need to find ways to ensure that the democratic impulse that many people have experienced for the first time is sustained and turned into genuine grassroots democratic politics, regardless of the outcome of the referendum.

Whatever changes over the coming months and years we are calling now for all political leaders to commit to ensuring that the voices of those who are living in poverty, those who have been the subject of so much debate during the campaign, are genuinely involved and actively shape the new Scotland that will emerge.

A little over three weeks after the referendum the Poverty Alliance will be coordinating Challenge Poverty Week, which will take place from the 12 -18 October.

Poverty Week leaflet

This will be a week of debates and action designed to show what has been done to tackle poverty. It will be one of the first opportunities after the referendum for campaigners to come together to show what they intend to do to address poverty now. We hope campaigners from both sides will get involved in Challenge Poverty Week and show the same enthusiasm for tackling poverty as they have for our constitutional future.

Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance, said: “This is an exciting time in Scottish politics and many people will consider the referendum to be the most important election of their lives.

“It is fantastic to see so many people registered to vote and I hope turnout will be high on the day.

“Poverty and social justice has been at the centre of the debate on independence and it been heartening to see so much debate about the type of Scotland we want to live.

“In 2012-13, 16 per cent of people in Scotland were living in poverty, more than 800,000. People on both sides of the debate have agreed that this is unacceptable and that we need to re-think our approach to tackling the problem, whether it is low benefit levels, unemployment or low pay. What the campaigns disagree on is how we best achieve this.

“It has become increasingly clear that the results will be close and it is important that people on both sides of the debate believe their voices will be heard regardless of the result. In particular we must ensure that the voices of those who are rarely heard, those people living in poverty, are taken seriously after the result of the referendum is known.

“Both campaigns must be prepared to set aside their differences and work together for a better Scotland, one where the blight of poverty is effectively tackled.”