News from Police Scotland … local opportunities to improve your cycle’s security
Month: September 2014
Ten minutes to change a life …
Save The Children has launched a video that puts viewers in the position of someone who is unable to read as part of their Read On. Get On literacy campaign.
The campaign has been launched by a coalition of charities, businesses and authors to encourage professionals and parents to help children improve their reading, and Save the Children‘s film that shows the impact that not being able to read well can have on someone’s life.
Called Ten Minutes a Day Could Change Everything, the film illustrates the importance of reading and the positive difference adults can make to young children’s lives.
The charity has also launched an online petition that calls on politicians to ensure by 2025 that every child in the UK is a confident reader at age 11. It has also been promoting the campaign on Twitter using the hashtag #ReadonGeton, and several popular YouTube bloggers have made videos to show their support.
Justin Forsyth, chief executive of Save the Children, said: “Read On. Get On is not just about teachers, charities and politicians – it’s about galvanising the nation so that parents, grandparents and volunteers play their part in teaching children to read. We want every child to be given a fair and equal chance to learn to read well, regardless of their background.”
Are your gas appliances safe?
Did you know that last week was Gas Safety Week? Me neither, there was quite a lot happening – but it’s not too late to check that your gas appliances are safe …
Research shows many homes have an unsafe gas appliance – risking fire or carbon monoxide poisoning, and firefighters are supporting the call to the public to help prevent tragedies by ensuring gas appliances are always properly maintained.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has thrown its weight behind Gas Safety Week – the nationwide campaign aiming to raise awareness of gas safety issues.
Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, director of prevention and protection, said: “The effects of a gas escape or carbon monoxide poisoning can be absolutely devastating.
“In the last year alone 343 people were injured and 10 people died in the UK as a result of gas related incidents.
“This follows previous information from Gas Safe Register which revealed that around one in five homes in Scotland has an unsafe gas appliance.
“It also found one in 20 would be considered immediately dangerous – meaning they could cause a fire, an explosion or a potentially fatal leak of toxic fumes.
“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer that you can’t see, taste or smell. It is the unnoticeable result of fuel not being properly burned and it can kill very, very quickly.
“Every home which has gas appliances should have carbon monoxide alarms fitted to ensure that in the event of a leak everyone gets warning of the danger.
“The threat of explosion or fire is real and the simple fact is anyone who uses gas heating or other appliances should ensure these are regularly serviced and properly maintained by a Gas Safe registered engineer.“
Gas Safety Week runs from 15 to 21 September and is coordinated by Gas Safe Register – the official list of engineers who are qualified to work legally and safely on gas appliances.
It advises the public is to have appliances checked every year, with a reminder service and information about specific local dangers available online at www.StayGasSafe.co.uk.
People should check for any of the warning signs an appliance may not be working correctly, such as a lazy yellow flame, black marks or stains around the appliance, or too much condensation in the room.
Knowing the six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness – could also save lives.
To find a Gas Safe registered engineer and for further gas safety advice visit www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.
New Town and Broughton Community Council
The New Town and Broughton Community Council meets on the second Monday of the month from 7.30pm until 9.30pm. Local residents are very welcome to attend and raise issue with the Community Council. The dates are:
Monday 13 October 2014
Monday 10 November 2014
Monday 8 December 2014
All meetings are held at the Drummond Room, Broughton St Mary’s Church, Bellevue Crescent (enter by ramp, suitable for wheelchairs, down at right hand side of church).
For further details and for a contact form see our new website
ntbcc.org.uk
Whitespace Gallery to host post-conflict exhibition
What happens when war moves on? Gayfield Square’s Whitespace Gallery is to host an important post-conflict programme next month. The week-long event will feature a photographic exhibition, conference and the screening of human rights photojournalist Fiona Lloyd- Davies’ film Seeds of Hope.
THE Voices of Post-Conflict Project – a student-led initiative from the University of Edinburgh – is delighted to invite members of the public, NGOs, academics and students, as well as all other interested parties, to attend our conference and exhibition from 3 – 9 October.
Against the backdrop of a photographic exhibition, the conference, ‘Agency in Post-Conflict Societies – Perspectives on Issues of Gender and Agency for Women and Young People’, showcases various post-conflict perspectives and explores topics related to gender in post-conflict situations.
The public is especially invited to the film screening of ‘Seeds of Hope’, followed by a Q&A with award-winning director, Fiona Lloyd-Davies, on October 8th, 6-8pm. Fiona Lloyd-Davies is a renowned filmmaker and photojournalist who has been reporting on human rights issues in conflict areas for more than 20 years.
For more information and to register for events, please visit http://voicesofpostconflict.wordpress.com/
Picture Credit: Fiona Lloyd-Davies
Lazarowicz: transfer of powers ‘without delay’
Mark Lazarowicz MP has pledged to work for the transfer of powers promised to the Scottish Parliament without delay as Ed Miliband and the other UK party leaders confirmed their commitment to the process.
The North & Leith MP sets out his views on the way ahead for Scotland and the rest of the UK on the path to constitutional reform in an article published on his website today.
He said: “There must be no delay in the transfer of powers promised during the referendum campaign to the Scottish Parliament.
“Gordon Brown announced a timetable with cross-party support for further transfers of power to the Scottish Parliament and Ed Miliband as well as the other UK party leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to it.
“That has now begun with the agreement of a Parliamentary Motion which will be published as soon as Parliament returns. Full debate involving the Scottish Parliament and civil society in Scotland will follow leading to legislation being drafted by January.
“We now need to re-engage people to rebuild democracy throughout the UK by devolving power and Scotland is leading the way in that.”
You can find the full text of the article at:
Volunteer Recruitment Fair’s this Wednesday
The Volunteer Recruitment Fair takes place at St Paul’s and St Georges Church on York Place this Wednesday (24.09) from 11am – 7pm.
Entry is free, and we expect more than a thousand visitors to come along to find out more about the wide variety of volunteering opportunities available across Edinburgh with charities, social enterprises and the public sector.
This year, in addition to fifty plus stalls, there will be free employability workshops running at 11.30am and 3.00pm, and when visitors need to sit down after taking in all this new information there’s a café serving delicious food and drink run by the by city-based social enterprise Out of the Blue Drill Hall Arts Café .
Volunteering helps people build new skills, get a taste of different working environments, create new friendships and boost individual confidence and wellbeing. For those seeking a route into work, volunteering also adds skills to CVs as well as providing work experience and up-to-date references.
Making the choice to give your time and expertise to help others is a positive and meaningful commitment, with big rewards for the volunteer and the organisation or clients that the volunteer donates their time to. The Volunteer Recruitment Fair is the perfect way to match those who want to make best use of their time with those who benefit from their input. It’s also an opportunity to publicise Edinburgh’s vibrant Third Sector community.
VCE Convener Kris Von Wald said: “The role of volunteers in improving the quality of life in their communities has never been more important. The success of last year’s Volunteer Recruitment Fair demonstrated that the desire to donate both time and skills to help others is alive and well in the citizen’s of Edinburgh. All the signs point to 2014 being even more successful.”
For more about the Volunteer Recruitment Fair, visit the Volunteer Centre Edinburgh’s website, or Facebook page.
You for coffee?
Is your group, organisation or club supporting Macmillan’s Coffee Morning? If so – let us know – we’ll share your event with NEN readers!
It’s Macmillan’s biggest fundraising event, where people across the UK are asked to hold a coffee morning and raise money for people living with cancer. In 2013, 154,000 people signed up, raising a record £20 million.
Cancer is the toughest fight most of us will ever face. And as treatments improve, more and more people are living with cancer in their daily lives. The money you raise at your coffee morning will help make sure no one has to face cancer alone, from the moment they’re diagnosed, through treatment and beyond.
Join Gladys at PYCP’s event on Saturday from 10.30 – 2pm!
Also on Saturday, Granton Parish Church Big Coffee Morning kicks off at 10am in the West Hall. Can you help? Contact Heather McArdle
You can also sign up to host your own coffee morning by visiting www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee or telephone 0300 1000 200.
Voluntary Sector Forum: extra date added
Due to the retirement of Gena Wylie and Thomas Brown moving to pastures new the Forth and Inverleith Forum now need to elect 2 new chairs for this Forum.
Due to the length of time between Forums I thought it best to organise an extra meeting for the Forum to discuss the election and how they wish to go forward with this.
The Forum meeting will take place on
Wednesday 15 October from 10am -12 noon
at Pilton Community Health Project, 73 Boswall Parkway.
It would be beneficial to the Forum and Third Sector in these areas if we could have strong representation at the meeting to ensure everyone has had time and the opportunity to discuss as a collective.
Whilst there is no Chair for both areas my role is to cover all NP meetings where possible to represent the Third Sector in that area. I’m very keen that the representation comes from local Grassroot workers in the area, as I feel they would be better placed than I to represent a particular area.
Can you please let me know if you are able to attend.
Many thanks
Waterfront regeneration: still time to book your place
It’s now less than a week away, but there’s still time to book your place at Building New Futures, Forth’s regeneration conference:
If you live, visit or work in the north of the city, you may be aware of regeneration activity underway. Here in the Forth Neighbourhood, a number of projects have started or are under development. The Forth Neighbourhood Partnership and local Community Councils feel that this is a good time to bring together as many of those involved with managing or developing local regeneration to engage with the wider Forth community.
The Forth Regeneration event will take place on Saturday 27 September in Edinburgh College – Granton Campus from 10am – 2pm.
The event has been designed to be interactive and allow people the opportunity to fully understand and influence, where possible, current regeneration activity and future proposals. Information and discussion groups will take place around:
· New homes and improved public space in Pennywell/Muirhouse and health facilities;
· Proposals for Granton Waterfront;
· Wider investment across Forth, identifying challenges and opportunities.
An overview of the Second Proposed Local Development Plan will help set the scene before we head into discussion groups around the above three key areas.
A light lunch is available. Please let us know if you require any childcare arrangements.
Use the link below to book a place. If you have already booked, there is no need to re-book – please forward to anyone you think may be interested in attending.
Scott Donkin | Partnership & Information Manager | North Neighbourhood | Services for Communities | The City of Edinburgh Council | 8 West Pilton Gardens EH4 4DP | Tel 0131 529 5001 |scott.donkin@edinburgh.gov.uk