Day: April 23, 2015

Countdown to Community Conversation Cafe

clcYOUThe first in a series of Community Conversation Cafes will be held next Friday (1 May) at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre from 10am – 12 noon.

The sessions offer an opportunity for residents of West Pilton and Muirhouse to get together over a cuppa and talk about their neighbourhoods – what’s good, what’s bad, what needs to change – and what resources do we need to bring about that change?

Ideas and issues raised at the cafe events will help to develop the programme for a new Community Leadership College, so your opinions are important!

Drop in for a chat – we look forward to seeing you!

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Green MSPs call for wage rises to address food poverty

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Scottish Green MSPs are calling for wage rises to help address the problem of food poverty in Scotland, as new figures from the Trussell Trust show the use of food banks has risen by two-thirds over the last year.

The trust issued emergency supplies on 117,689 occasions in Scotland last year – including 18,000 times in Glasgow and 14,000 in Edinburgh.

Patrick Harvie, Scottish Green MSP for Glasgow, said: “These figures are sobering. It’s clear that the dismantling of the benefits system, the unfair sanctions regime and the low pay economy we now have are all playing a part. It’s simply unacceptable in a country with so much wealth and so much good food.

“An immediate step we could take is to stop subsidising employers who pay poverty wages. Let’s make the minimum wage a Living Wage right now.”

Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, said: “Benefit sanctions, falling wages and an insecure jobs market are all having a big impact. Tackling in-work poverty is paramount.”

Granton Improvement Society AGM

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Granton Improvement Society AGM

Saturday 9 May 10am

North Edinburgh Arts Centre

Keynote speaker: Ian Cooke (Director, DTAS):

‘What now for Community Empowerment?’

The Granton Improvement Society, an open membership society, purpose is the Improvement of Granton and the surrounding area of Edinburgh.

http://grantonimprovementsociety.wordpress.com/

Granton Improvement Society is looking to build their membership numbers within the EH4 and EH5 area. We are interested in area regeneration and working with the community to find out what would be desirable in the area to make real changes that people can directly benefit from and be involved in physically creating and managing for themselves.

We are also looking for people who may wish to become Trustees and Directors and who may have financial and business skills that they are willing to share to help our organisation evolve and effectively achieve it’s short and long term aims. Not all board members require to live within the local area. Please attend if you would like to find out more from us directly.

We welcome your interest.

The Society AGM will take place in North Edinburgh Arts Centre, business will be the election of trustees and a short talk by Ian Cooke Director of DTAS on “What now for Community Empowerment?”

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Toddler molested in Pennywell Gardens

‘The assault has shocked the family and they, like us, want to see the man brought to justice’ – DCI Alwyn Bell

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Police are appealing for information to help trace a man who inappropriately touched a toddler in Muirhouse on Tuesday evening. The wee boy was with his mother in Pennywell Gardens at around 6.45 when he was approached by a man and subjected to a sexual assault.

Police are seeking the help of the public in tracing the assailant, who is described as 5ft 6in to 6ft tall, stocky build and unshaven. He was wearing a brown leather jacket, a dark woolly hat and dark trousers at the time of the incident.

The suspect was last seen walking in the direction of Millennium Park.
Det Ch Insp Alwyn Bell said: “We are extremely keen to apprehend this individual as quickly as possible and I would encourage anyone who remembers seeing this man in the area of Pennywell Gardens to contact police immediately.

“He was wearing a woolly hat, which could be seen as unusual in warm temperatures. Understandably, the assault has shocked the family and they, like us, want to see the man brought to justice.”

If you have any information please call Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111