The Community Chat Cafe invites you to share food, language and culture. Join us for our free, friendly, sociable lunches and practice your English – all welcome!
Wednesday 25 February
Wednesday 11 March
Wednesday 25 March
12.30 – 2pm at Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway
A creche is available but must be booked by calling Rachel: on 07891 525663 or Julie on 07958 540 438.
Community Chat Cafe is organised by the Living in Harmony Group and North Edinburgh Timebank
The Scottish Government has adopted www.gov.scot as its primary web address to take advantage of the new .scot top level domain.
More than 8,000 domains have been sold to individuals and groups since they went on sale last September. The new .scot domain aims to promote Scottish identity, culture and economic opportunity on the internet across the world.
The previous address – www.scotland.gov.uk – will continue to take users to the site and other established links will operate as normal.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Using the .scot domain as our primary web address will be a visible symbol of the Scottish Government’s online presence and our involvement with the worldwide family of Scots who choose to express their identity or affinity online.
“The expansion of the number of top-level internet domains in recent times gives users many more options to brand themselves in new ways online – and we’re delighted to lead by example.
“Users will see the new web address on our site straight away but other changes to the infrastructure, including new email addresses for Scottish Government staff, will be introduced in a phased and structured way to ensure no one is inconvenienced.”
The .scot domain is one of hundreds to go live on the internet in the last year, adding diversity as alternatives to the most common domains such as .com, .net, and .org. At least 1,300 will be added over the next few years.
‘TTIP is a corporate power grab being negotiated in secret, threatening our NHS and putting at risk jobs and wages’ – Alison Johnstone MSP
Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, is renewing her call for the Scottish Government to toughen its stance on TTIP, the controversial EU-US trade deal which threatens jobs, wages and food standards.
SNP ministers support the principle of the deal, as does Labour. It aims to remove barriers to multinational corporations and could enable them to sue governments over profits.
UK trade minister Lord Livingston gives evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s European committee today (19 Feb), while a protest will take place outside Holyrood by campaigners concerned at the threat to the NHS from TTIP. Alison Johnstone has signed the People’s NHS pledge calling for the health service to be exempted from any deal.
Lord Livingston has said the UK Government is “totally committed” to TTIP, and that “the benefit to industry is enormous”. However, a range of charities and unions have warned against the deal, with Global Justice Now highlighting the threat to local employment and public health.
Alison Johnstone MSP, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, said: “TTIP is a corporate power grab being negotiated in secret, threatening our NHS and putting at risk jobs and wages. Although Scottish ministers say they oppose the inclusion of the health service in TTIP they support the principle of the deal.
“While it’s perhaps no surprise that the UK Coalition Government is prepared to roll out the red carpet for big business, the mixed position of the Scottish Government is causing serious concern among people I’ve spoken to in recent months. There’s a real danger that this deal could make it easier for corporations to drive wages down and make employment even less secure. It could also weaken protections against the imports of GM foods and hormone-produced meat.
“The mounting public concern cannot be ignored.”
‘There was chaos over Local Development Plan 1 and now the same thing is happening over LDP2’ – Colin Keir MSP
Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir has accused the city council’s planning convener of incompetence following news that the City Of Edinburgh Council has deferred decisions relating to the Local Development Plan (LDP2).
The announcement that the decision on the Local Development Plan, which was due next week, has now been put off until after the General Election in May has been received with anger in Edinburgh Western – which contains the contentious Cammo and Maybury development sites along with other controversial development proposals at South Queensferry.
Mr Keir said: “There are serious questions to be asked of Convener of the Planning Committee Councillor Perry and senior planning officials. There was chaos over LDP1 and now the same thing is happening over LDP2.
“Thanks to Councillor Perry’s actions, my constituents particularly those in Cammo, Maybury, Corstorphine and South Queensferry, can look forward to even more uncertainty due to an avalanche of presumptive planning applications which are sure to follow the non-determination of LDP2.
“Councillor Perry has either shown a serious lack of competence and leadership on this or he is playing party politics with the daily lives of residents and the prosperity of the city. Where is the joined up thinking, what discussions have there been relating to transport and pollution management? These are questions residents need answers to. It’s time for Councillor Perry and the Labour Party to come clean with residents of Edinburgh West and the city as a whole”.
Mr Keir has consistently opposed the proposals to develop green field sites at Cammo and Maybury. He has also raised concerns over the number of new developments proposed for South Queensferry which were only introduced into the LDP last year.
The LDP process has been in development since 2011.
Police seek occupants of silver Vauxhall following Trinity robbery
A man fought off up to six intruders after they broke into his home in Trinity earlier this week.
The 36-year-old resident disturbed one of the robbers in his Afton Terrace home at around 9.30pm on Tuesday.
The pair struggled and were joined by more intruders – all are thought to be teenagers – who entered the house by the back door. The robbers then ran off and escaped in a silver Vauxhall which was parked at the front of the house.
It is understood a quantity of cash was taken.
The first robber is described as white, 5ft 10in, slim, around 17 years old, with short dark hair and was wearing a black woolly hat and a dark navy tracksuit with stripes and a gold logo on the arm.
The second was white, around 19 years old, 5ft 10in, slim, with short hair and was wearing a white and red scarf over his face, grey hoodie and grey trousers.
A third was white, around 19, 5ft 8in and chubby. The others are described as aged between 16 and 18 and wearing dark clothes.
Detective Constable Mark Seymour said: “This was a very frightening experience for the victim who discovered the suspects within his home and who was then assaulted.
“Anyone who was in the area of Afton Terrace and Granton Road at around 9.30pm and saw a silver Vauxhuall car or has information about who was responsible is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101.”
TALENTED youngsters who love drama are being urged to apply for Scottish Youth Theatre’s acclaimed Summer Festival flagship theatre courses by actors from the hit comedy Still Game and the hugely successful Harry Potter films.
SYT patrons, Oscar-winning actress and screenwriter, Emma Thompson – who played eccentric professor Sybill Trelawney in the Harry Potter films – and Paul Riley, who played lovable rogue Vincent in Still Game, believe that Summer Festival courses are a great way for young people to develop the acting and theatre production skills needed to follow a career in the industry.
Summer Festival, now in its 39th year, consists of intensive courses for ages 14-25 years covering all aspects of theatre and drama including production, acting and stage management.
Places are highly sought-after, so entry to the courses, which range from three-six weeks-long in July and August 2015, is by audition only in February. Applications for Summer Festival can be made throughout February at www.scottishyouththetare.org.
There are also shorter courses available for ages 8-11 and 12-15.
Paul Riley, is just one of a long list of actors who started their career at SYT’s Summer Festival. Others include Gerard Butler (James Bond, How To Train Your Dragon, 300), Karen Gillan (Dr. Who, Guardians of the Galaxy), Colin McCredie (Shallow Grave, River City), Blythe Duff (Taggart, The James Plays) and Kirstie Steel (Waterloo Road, Glasgow Girls).
Paul said: “I remember taking my bow on the Olivier stage at the National on the south bank the same day Laurence Olivier died. I was 17 and a member of the Scottish Youth Theatre.
“I’m now proud to say I’m now one of their patrons. There is no question that attending SYT put me on the path to becoming the professional I am today. I’m one of hundreds, if not thousands, who passed through SYT and went on to have a career in the arts. Just as important are those who didn’t but still draw on the life skills and confidence that attending SYT provides.”
Long-term SYT patron, Emma Thompson, who also starred in numerous successful films including Howards End, Sense and Sensibility, and Nanny McPhee, added: “I had the privilege of visiting SYT’s Summer Festival in Glasgow in 2013, and meeting some of the talented young students along with my mother, and fellow patron, Phyllida Law.
“We were blown away by the energy, commitment and creativity of these young actors who were rehearsing two critically-acclaimed productions: Mary Queen of Scots got her Head Chopped Off, by the uniquely brilliant Liz Lochhead, and Now’s the Hour, about the independence referendum, which was a huge success at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
“It was very clear to us that Scottish Youth Theatre is unique in its ability to create a safe, fun and stimulating environment where children and young people can express themselves, take risks and reach their creative potential.”
Mary McCluskey, Scottish Youth Theatre’s chief executive and artistic director said: “Summer Festival is SYT’s sector leading flagship course. These intensive performance courses allow young people to build on their personal, social and performance skills in a professional theatre environment.
“Our Production and Performance Learning Programme for ages 16-25 also leads to a SCQF qualification equivalent to Advanced Higher. In 2013, Summer Festival created Now’s the Hour about the independence referendum which went onto to a huge success at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe.”
Edinburgh College has been shortlisted for three prestigious marketing awards, recognising achievements in marketing courses, catering for students’ needs and communicating with staff.
The College Development Network (CDN) Marketing Awards 2015 – which take place next Wednesday (25 February) – are designed to recognise and celebrate the excellent marketing and communication practice taking place in colleges across Scotland.
The college is shortlisted for the following awards:
Edinburgh College interim principal Elaine McMahon said: “Being shortlisted for these awards is a great achievement and our staff deserve huge congratulations. It’s fantastic to see the creative work put into supporting, encouraging and communicating with students and staff being recognised in this way.
“The Creative Industries Employability Day was a fine example of the focus college staff put upon preparing students for working life in a competitive market and was so successful that the event will run again in February.
“The nomination for the staff conference is a welcome credit for the work done to build a sense of community in the still newly merged Edinburgh College.
“It is also satisfying to see that the work of our marketing and communications staff to promote the range of courses on offer at the college has been recognised. Their hard work led to a highly successful open day and the college meeting student recruitment targets for the year.”
Last year, Edinburgh College achieved a silver award in the Internal Communications category and bronze in the Event category in the CDN Marketing Awards 2014.
