Month: October 2014

Did you know Marion?

Hi,

My mother, Marion Fyfe Reilly (nee Banks) was involved in protesting and squatting in Lochend Gardens and West Ferry Road sometime around 1943-46. She had her first child in July 1943 and raised him alone while her husband was still overseas in the army.

She died (aged 95) last week and I only became aware of this yesterday from her younger sister (aged 90). There were apparently reports and photographs in the newspapers at the time. I am amazed and impressed.

I was wondering if you had any records from that time as I would love to share her struggle with friends and family at her funeral on Friday. It feels like it may be a very important aspect of her character that wasn’t known to us. I have viewed the Scotsman digital archive with no luck.

Thanks

Steven Reilly

If any reader remembers Marion please get in touch and we will forward details to Steven Reilly 

Be honest: what do you think of our young people?

NEYPF

Hi All,

We at North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum are carrying out a review of our group/projects/service.

The reason for our review is so that ourselves and others can see what we have achieved and what we haven’t managed to achieve, whilst also paving the way forward. Therefore, we are asking for 5 minutes of your organisations time to complete a short questionnaire (attached below) and then all you have to do is send it back to us.

NEYPF Organisations Questionaire

Please be honest, your feedback is important to us.

We would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone for their help and support, and an extra thanks to everyone who completes our mini questionnaire as part of the review and send it back over!

You can email it to neypf@hotmail.co.uk 

Thanks

Kind Regards

North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum

Inverleith Community Conference

INP walk

INP CONFERENCE

The theme for this year is ‘increasing walking and cycling in Inverleith’ and we’d like to invite everyone living, working or travelling in Inverleith to have a say on how we can make walking and cycling easier, safer and more welcoming for all

Please come along and share your thoughts on how we can get people in Inverleith walking and cycling more, to pick up tips, advice and support and also to help us identify what the Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership can do to make it happen.

Come join us on Thursday 30 October

from 6-9pm at Broughton High School

We’d also welcome local organisations to come along and display information on how you can help us achieve this!

Contact elaine.lennon@edinburgh.gov.uk for more info. or to book your place, email anne.brown@ea.edin.sch.uk

 

We’ll discover Scotland’s Real Heroes a week tonight

Can local youth club Fet-Lor win Community Project of the Year? Come to that, can Sid the horse win Hero Animal of the Year? All will be revealed a week tonight …

Connect_STV_Carol Smillie_RBS Finding Scotlands Real Heroes_Nov 2013RBS-Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes: The Awards will air on STV at 8pm next  Tuesday (14 October). The star studded event is hosted by Carol Smillie (pictured above)and will recognise local champions from across Scotland.

The hour long programme will see a total of 11 awards handed out by famous faces, including Nicholas McDonald of The X Factor, actor Bill Paterson, actor Clare Grogan and Taggart star Alex Norton, to Scots who have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people in their local area.

The Scottish public were asked to nominate friends, neighbours or groups who they thought deserved to be recognised earlier this year and the judging panel revealed a shortlist of nominees after an overwhelming response.  Each week six nominees in ten categories were showcased for the RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes series in which the viewers were invited to vote for the candidate they believed most deserved to collect an award.

A winner from each category will be revealed in STV’s programme on Friday 14th October then one extraordinary hero, selected from the final category winners, will collect the RBS Scotland’s Real Hero of the Year Award.

Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV, said: “To stand out from thousands of entries, our nominees are all doing something pretty remarkable. But their commitment, energy and inspiration are typical of the truly inspiring Scots who go the extra mile for their community. This awards ceremony on STV is a great way to celebrate and reward their achievement.”

Chris Wilson, Royal Bank of Scotland’s Managing Director of Branch and Private Banking in Scotland, said:“We’re really pleased at how successful this year’s series of RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes has been and the way the Scottish public has got behind all of the finalists.  It’s important to celebrate the extraordinary lengths people in communities all around Scotland go to make a difference to the lives of those around them. We’re really looking forward to finding out who the Scottish public has voted as their Real Heroes and giving them the recognition they deserve at the awards ceremony.”

The following individuals, groups and organisations have been shortlisted for an RBS Real Hero award:

COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Jim McConkey – Govan, Glasgow

Vicki McCarthy (REACH for Autism) – Greenock, Inverclyde

Ross Cowie (Lucky2BHere) – Portree, Isle of Skye

SPORTING VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR             

Elaine McKenna (Special Olympics Lothian) – Blackburn, West Lothian

Pat Bannan (Bannan Fitness Club) –Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire

Andrew Campbell (Camran Taekwando) – Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire 

HERO NEIGHBOUR OF THE YEAR

Ann Graham – Riverside, Stirling

Mo and Roxy Razzaq – Blantyre, South Lanarkshire

Margaret (Garry) Robertson – Wick, Caithness.

COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR                       

Bathgate Street Pastors – Bathgate, West Lothian

Jackie McIntosh (MS Therapy Centre Inverness) – Inverness, Highlands

Margaret Gibb (West of Scotland Play Scheme) – Bellshill, South Lanarkshire.

RBS COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Fet Lor – Crewe Toll, Edinburgh

The Driving Force – Bonnybridge, Falkirk

The Serenity Cafe – Edinburgh.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Saltburn Woodland Walk – Invergordon, Highlands

Yooz Reuse & Recycling – Bellshill, North Lanarkshire

Killie Can Cycle – Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.

SCOTLAND’S REAL HEROES COURAGE AWARD

Dean Reilly (Dean Reilly V’s MS) – Portobello, Edinburgh

Amanda McTaggart (Wigbank Glasgow) – Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire

Jenny Cook (Wee Jenny Cook) – East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.

CARER OF THE YEAR         

Nell Graham (Portobello Monday Centre) – Portobello, Edinburgh

Maw’s Mafia (The EK Hangout) – East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire

Anne Swartz (Scottish Kinship Care Alliance) – Dumbarton, W. Dunbartonshire. 

YOUNG REAL HERO OF THE YEAR

Danii McArthur (Young Carer) – Barrhead, Glasgow

Mitchell Kinnen(Bright Lights Theatre Group) – Blantyre, South Lanarkshire

The Volunteers of the Glasgow 77th (Disabled) Scout Group – Glasgow. 

HERO ANIMAL OF THE YEAR

Barra the Dog (K9 Search and Recovery Scotland) –Luss, Argyll & Bute

Sid the Horse (Aberdeen RDA) – Milltimber, Aberdeen

Ben the Dog (Therapet) – Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire.

For more information, visit www.stv.tv/realheroes

or get involved on Twitter #scotlandsrealheroes

or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/scotrealheroes

STV

North Edinburgh Theatre: play your part!

masks (2)News from Stephanie at the North Edinburgh Theatre Project:
Hello everyone,

Music Workshop

This is a special reminder for everyone who is interested in the music side of the 1d Tenement Opera project:

Lynda Peachey, our Musical Director, is leading a Music Workshop on Saturday 11 October (11a.m. – 2p.m) at North Edinburgh Arts.

Design & Costume

Ali Maclaurin, our Designer, is leading a Costume and Design Workshop on Saturday (11 October) 11a.m. – 2p.m. at North Edinburgh Arts.

You are very welcome to join in with these Workshops, even if you are not a regular participant; it will be great fun and of course we have a crèche, as well as tea and coffee during the break.

Our regular Theatre Workshop is on Friday 10 October 6 pm – 8pm at North Edinburgh Arts.

Please get in contact if you have any questions and we look forward to welcoming you.

Stephanie Knight, 
North Edinburgh Theatre project

01578 750694

home

New phone line for over-65s launches tomorrow

Worried and pensive senior woman talking on cordless phone. Image shot 2006. Exact date unknown.

INTRO with map

Volunteer Centre Edinburgh is to launch a new dedicated phone line for people aged 65 and over living in North West and South East Edinburgh giving easy access to information on a huge range of activities available to them.

The new service, which starts starts tomorrow (Wednesday 8 October), uses a dedicated direct dial number 0131 603 8311. Lines will be open from 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday with a call back service outwith these times. 

People are living longer and the new phone line aims to help people maintain a good quality of life by giving access to information on activities which can help keep us happy and healthy as well as giving us a great excuse to socialise.

The phone line is part of the Local Opportunities for Older People (LOOPS) initiative which is piloting a variety of innovative, new services across Edinburgh aimed at people 65 plus.

Commenting on the launch of the new phone line, Volunteer Centre Edinburgh’s CEO Harriet Eadie said “As someone who has an elderly mother living in the Highlands, who needs a range of support and help to live independently I know exactly how valuable it can be to have easy access to good information on activities, but also how difficult that can be to get that information.  I’m so excited that in North West and South East Edinburgh Volunteer Centre Edinburgh can help make it just a little bit easier for older people, their family and friends to get to the information they need.”

There are 36,238 people 65+ living in North West and South East Edinburgh in 18,266 homes and the impact of isolation and loneliness on their health is dramatic.  Research shows that after only 8 hours of inactivity joint contractures start forming and that muscle atrophy, bone loss and heart changes occur after only a few days of inactivity.

The phone line is hoping to reach out to as many as possible.  Using trained, friendly volunteers it will offer a welcoming, enabling information and signposting service and give out information to people directly, or to Health and Social Care Professionals, friends, neighbours or family.

For more about the Volunteer Centre Edinburgh LOOPs, visit Volunteer Centre Edinburgh’s website, or Facebook page.

vol

Candlelight vigil at St Paul’s

StPauls2

SILENT PROTEST AGAINST THE CLOSURE OF ST PAUL’S

FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER FROM 6.15pm

A silent protest will take place on Friday 10 October from 6.15pm onwards outside St Paul’s during the Thanksgiving mass. There will be posters handed out for people to display and candles will be provided and placed around the entrance to the church and other areas (it would be helpful if you could bring along some glass jars to hold the candles to prevent them going out).

There are also posters available for children and families to colour in and decorate to display at the protest. These can be picked up at Muirhouse Library or Muirhouse Community Shop. Of course, you can also make your own posters, placards, and banners and bring them along too!

We hope to see as many people as possible attend from all parts of the community while we protest silently and peacefully to demonstrate our objection to the closure of St Paul’s.

SILENT PROTEŚCIE PRZECIWKO ZAMKNIĘCIU ŚWIĘTEGO PAWŁAPIĄTEK,

10 PAŹDZIERNIKA Z 18:15

Cichy protest odbędzie się w piątek 10 października od 18:15 roku poza St Paul’s podczas mszy Dziękczynienia. Będą plakaty rozdawane dla osób do wyświetlania i świece będą dostarczane i umieszczone wokół wejścia do kościoła i innych dziedzinach (dobrze byłoby gdybyś mógł przynieść niektórych słoikach trzymać świece, aby zapobiec im wychodzi).

Są też plakaty dostępne dla dzieci i rodzin, aby kolor i ozdobić, aby wyświetlić na protest. Te mogą być zabierani na Muirhouse Biblioteki lub Muirhouse wspólnotowego sklepu. Oczywiście, można również tworzyć własne plakaty, afisze i transparenty i przynieść je razem też!

Mamy nadzieję, że tak wielu ludzi, jak to możliwe, chodzi do wszystkich części społeczeństwa, a my cicho i spokojnie protestować wykazać nasz sprzeciw wobec zamknięcia St Paul’s.

Prosimy dołączyć w ” Wydarzenia ” , jeśli będziesz uczestniczyć

Save St Paul’s Campaign

 

 

A living memorial for Mikaeel

MY Adventure reach Towford target

MY1Money raised to pay for a memorial for little Mikaeel Kular has been donated to a local youth project in Muirhouse. The money has helped MY Adventure to upgrade an adventure centre for thousands of local children to enjoy for years to come. 

MY Adventure used a crowdfunding site to try to raise £6000 for urgent repairs to Towford, a dilapidated outdoors centre near Jedburgh. The social enterprise was over halfway toward it’s target when trustees of the Mikaeel Kular Memorial Fund decided to contribute the donations they had received – over £3000 – to the Towford venture, making the MY dream become a reality.

It’s great news for MY Adventure and proof that joy can spring from tragedy.

Jonny Kinross, Director of MY Adventure, said: “Towford Outdoor Centre will be an affordable outdoor resource for children, families, communities and businesses to stay or use for years to come. The centre, which was formerly a 19th century school, will be entrusted to the Muirhouse community and safeguarded by registered local charity Muirhouse Youth Development Group.

“Our centre will be accessible to thousands of local people, groups, businesses and school pupils all year, next year and for generations to come.

“Eighty official backers have surpassed our target of £6000, with £35000 raised from individual supporters and local organisations in just two weeks. ‘These people felt either connected to Muirhouse or inspired by what the centre will come to be and mean to local people.

‘It was this that inspired the Mikaeel Kular Memorial Fund to pledge such a large amount to our campaign. That money will secure his legacy and will specifically help create a children’s play area in the 17 acre grounds dedicated to him.

“‘It’s a testament to how his community showed strength, solidarity and compassion at a time of their greatest need.”

Three year old Mikaeel Kular died in his Muirhouse home in January after being subjected to three-day beating by his mother. Rosdeep Adekoya claimed her son had gone missing, sparking off an unprecedented local search, but Mikaeel’s body was found two days later. She was subsequently jailed for eleven years.

Mikaeel’s disappearance galvanised the local community and thousands took part in the search for the wee boy. When the tragic truth became known a fund was set up to create a memorial to remember Mikaeel – and MY Adventure’s Towford Centre will now ensure that Mikaeel’s memory will live on. 

Robert Pearson, chairman of Tenants & Residents in Muirhouse (TRIM), who initiated the collection for the memorial, said: ”Our thanks to everyone who donated, I know Mikaeel’s’ family are touched by the response of our community. It was always going to be difficult to decide just what to use the money on.

”Reading all the suggestions and talking to residents who visited the community shop, I got a sense of outdoor, play area and family activities are what people are looking for. When a resident mentioned the Towford Centre, I immediately thought it ticked all boxes. Mikaeel wasn’t allowed to grow up and enjoy his childhood – his legacy will ensure other children can.’

MikaeelK

Scottish Youth Parliament needs YOU!

SYPlogo

Hello YOUNG PEOPLE! 

The Scottish Youth Parliament elections are being held in March 2015 where all Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) will be elected from across Scotland openly, democratically, and at the same time between 2 – 11 March 2015.  

Do you have the next Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament in your class, school group, community centre or youth clubs?   Or could it be you?  

All young people between the ages of 14-25 have the right to stand for election and so we’re hoping to capture input from young people willing to speak up and play their part in what’s happening around us! 

Standing as a candidate is an opportunity for young people in your school and community  to make a difference to their  local area (and the country) and to ensure young people’s voices are heard by Scotland’s decision-makers.

If you know of any young person who might be interested in being elected as an Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, the deadline to register an interest in standing for election is 31 October  2014.    

If anyone would like to get involved and/ or want to find out more,  please contact Mary Mitchell from the Young People’s Participation Team via mary.mitchell@edinburgh.gov.uk or by phoning 529 2131.  Or if you’d prefer to an informal chat on “your turf” before you progress anywhere please call me on 332 6316.

More information can also be found on the web at www.syp.org.uk, by tweet @Official SYP, or by visit syp.org.uk or a video promoting being a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament on the same website. 

Callum McLeod

Broughton Community Learning & Development team