North Edinburgh’s Women’s International Group invite you to their new exhibition which celebrates the many achievements of local women in this community.
The exhibition opens on Thursday at 10am in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre; there’s a free creche and lunch is provided too (please book creche place in advance to avoid disappointment).
For further information contact Lynn on 552 5700 or Rachel on 07891 525 663.
Getting together. Making a difference.
Enjoy afternoon tea at Friday’s Big Chinwag and help raise money to combat loneliness
We’re joining the mother of all natters this Friday to raise money to help lonely older people in Scotland and hope people aged 65+ can join us!
We all enjoy getting together for a good chat with friends, family or colleagues, but sadly 1 in 6 people over the age of 65 in Scotland feel cut off from society. Many older people can go for a month without seeing or speaking to anyone and this just isn’t right.
Please come along to Out of the Blue at The Old Drill Hall on Friday for our afternoon tea and natter – it will be great fun and you’ll be helping Age Scotland tackle loneliness in later life.
Thank you so much and hope to see you all there!
£3.50 entry, everyone welcome.
Open Day at Granton Campus on Wednesday
Anyone wanting to boost their qualifications, improve their job prospects, get on the career ladder or learn new skills should come along to Edinburgh College’s Course Open Days this week.
The Open Days on Wednesday (17 June) at Granton Campus and Thursday 18 June at Milton Road Campus – from 2-6pm on each day – are an opportunity to take the first steps into further education or learn new career-advancing skills. Expert staff will be on hand to discuss course information, progression routes and funding options.
The Open Days are a chance to learn more about and apply for the college’s new range of part-time, evening and leisure courses, including professional development programmes. These are open for applications now and include Accounting and Finance, Art and Design, Business and Enterprise, Construction, Health and Social Care, Hair and Beauty, Engineering, I.T., Performing Arts, and Sport and Travel.
The Open Days are also an opportunity to find out about full-time courses beginning in August with remaining places, which will open again on the college website this week.
At the Open Days, the college’s advisors will have all the information prospective students need, including funding options. Students on part-time courses may have several funding options available depending on their circumstances, including Individual Learning Accounts. Advisors can help students with funding applications.
Edinburgh College principal Annette Bruton said: “We have top-quality courses across our whole curriculum to suit a range of study needs, and we’d love anyone interested in finding out more to come down to our open days. Whether you want to develop your education or career, or you want to become skilled in a different field, there’s part-time, full-time and evening options to fit into your lifestyle.
“You’ll be taught by dedicated lecturers with real industry experience so you’ll be well prepared for the next steps of your career. Even if you’re not sure what the best option for you is, our advisors will be able to help and guide you to make the best decision possible.”
For more information about available courses, to make an application and to register your interest in a course, go to www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk
Come and help celebrate the start of summer with us on Saturday 20 June (of course it will be sunny!)
All events in or near to North Edinburgh Arts:
Porridge and Play at the new Centipede play area at Muirhouse Drive, meeting at North Edinburgh Arts from 9.30am; for more, see
http://www.licketyspit.com/happening/porridge-play-312
Free family performances of Calvinball at 10am and 11.30am in the garden here at North Edinburgh Arts by Ipdip Theatre, particular geared towards those of us under 5 and our families
And the Power of Food Festival open day, see https://poweroffoodfestival.wordpress.com/news/ for more
All we need is you!
Calvinball is inspired by the game played by Calvin and Hobbes in their comic strip it’s part Mornington Crescent, part Caucus-race; we’re on a quest to find the rules and the only way to do it is to play and see. The action and materials are chosen to appeal to the youngest of audience members and the open, outdoor setting frees parents from that particular theatre worry – will they sit? Lively, musical, slightly wild, and this time – outdoors!
Ring the box office on 0131 315 2151 or email
admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk
to book your free spaces for the 10am or 11.30am show.
All change at the head of troubled charity
Scottish charity KiltWalk has replaced its entire board of trustees following concerns over the amount of money it is giving to charitable causes.
Earlier this year four charities – CLIC Sargent, Cash for Kids, Aberlour and Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Friends Foundation – withdrew as official partners, some expressing concern over the amount of money reaching them from the Kiltwalk.
Kiltwalk, which was launched in 2011, stages sponsored walks across Scotland to raise money for leading children’s charities, and last year more than 12,000 people took part in KiltWalk organised events. However it’s most recent accounts (2013) showed more was spent on costs than went to charitable causes.
Kiltwalk chairman Michael Ure said the charity incurred additional costs because of a restructure of the organisation, but he and the other trustees have now stood down and a new board will be appointed to take KiltWalk forward.
KiltWalk’s most recent accounts show that, from an income of over £1.6m, £780,000 was spent on running costs – more than the £776,000 which went to charities.
Hundreds of people took part in Edinburgh’s KiltWalk on 3 May. Walkers were advised on the charity’s website:
‘The Kiltwalk exists for one purpose only – to raise money for Scotland’s children’s charities, causes and schools. So while you might also be taking part to get fit, for the challenge or just to have fun, we would ask to set yourself a personal fundraising target of £200 for Scotland’s children.
IMPORTANT – please send your sponsorship directly to The Kiltwalk and NOT to our charity partners or your nominated team cause. We’ll award them a grant.
We would like you to set yourself a target of:
26 and 13/16 miles walkers – £200
Wee Walk – Adult – £100,
Wee Walk – Child (Under 16s) – £50
Wee Walk – Families (A family of four) – £200 combined
Registration Fees:
26 and 13 miles walkers – £25
Wee Walk – Adult £10, Under 16s £5
£25 goes towards the cost of the marquees, stages, red cross, security, toilets, refreshments, signage and many, many other costs on the day.
You also get your Kiltwalk t-shirt, goodie bag and medal, and at £25 we are still priced well below similar events across Scotland.’
Further KiltWalk events are planned for Perth and Speyside in August and Dundee on 20 September, with Platinum and Gold packages on offer on the charity’s website.
An 80-year-old man has been assaulted and robbed in his home in Leith. The attacker forced his way into the pensioner’s home in Buchanan Street at about 9:20 on Saturday morning.
Police Scotland said the attacker then assaulted his victim before stealing a sum of cash and making off.
The robber is described as a white male in his 30s, about 5ft 6in tall with a medium build and short brown hair.
Police have appealed for witnesses. Detective Inspector John Kavanagh said: “This was a distressing incident for the victim. We are eager to trace this suspect as a matter of urgency.
“Anyone who saw a male matching the suspect description in the Buchanan Street area yesterday, or has any other relevant information, is asked to contact police immediately.”
As the last brave walkers make it back home, organisers reflect on a wet but wonderful night …
Mad Hatters waltzed with White Rabbits and Cheshire Cats can-canned with Pink Flamingos this weekend to celebrate a decade of incredible fundraising at The MoonWalk Scotland!
Thousands of women and men wearing decorated bras inspired by this year’s theme ‘Mad Hatter’s Midnight Tea Party’, set off in the cold and wet at midnight on Saturday from Inverleith Park, to power walk (or meander!) through the streets of the capital, raising money and awareness for breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.
Before one step had even been taken by that crazy gang of weird and wonderful wonderland characters over half a million pounds had already been raised – adding to an incredible total of £18 million since the first MoonWalk Scotland in 2006!
Most of the money stays in Scotland, helping to improve the lives of people with cancer.
Legendary Scottish band The Red Hot Chilli Pipers ramped up the party atmosphere in Walk the Walk’s Pink Palace, playing for Walkers before they set off on one of four challenges: New Moon (6.55 miles), Half Moon (13.1 miles), Full Moon (26.2 miles) and Over The Moon (52.4 miles).
With a walking distance for every age and ability, whole families were able to experience a night of fun and a bit of MoonWalk magic! Walkers aged from just ten years old are able to sign up for the New Moon, with this year’s youngest MoonWalker celebrating their own tenth birthday just two days before the event.
Iconic landmarks including Edinburgh Castle and the Melville Monument lit up pink throughout the night to give all the walkers a huge collective hug. A number of specially commissioned bras were also on display at The MoonWalk Scotland, designed by Maggie’s, Young Scot, Paths for All, Essential Edinburgh, City Cabs and Liggy’s Cakes, all uniting with Walk the Walk against breast cancer.
Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk said: “The energy of everyone at this fantastic birthday party was just amazing and the rain was not going to stop a good MoonWalk!
“It was incredible to see Edinburgh lit up pink, in honour of our wonderful Walkers, and I was overwhelmed by the kindness of people on the streets, coming together to provide a constant supply of support, snacks and drinks.
“I found it really moving standing on the finish line of the New Moon, seeing all the faces of young children, who were especially delighted because they had persuaded their parents to take part. What a night!”
Today is World Blood Donor Day
Happy World Blood Donor Day Everyone! World Blood Donor Day 2015 is a global celebration. The theme of this year’s campaign, which is being hosted in China, is: ‘Thank you for saving my life’.
It focuses on thanking blood donors who save lives every day through their blood donations and strongly encourages more people all over the world to donate blood voluntarily and regularly with the slogan:
“Give freely, give often. Blood donation matters.”
The campaign aims to highlight stories from people whose lives have been saved through blood donation, as a way of motivating regular blood donors to continue giving blood and people in good health who have never given blood to begin doing so.
Why is World Blood Donor Day celebrated on 14 June each year?
This is because it is Karl Landsteiner’s birthday. He was born in 1868 and first distinguished the main blood groups in 1900. Lansteiner developed the modern system of classification of blood groups from his identification of the presence of agglutinins in the blood, and having identified, with Alexander S. Wiener, the Rhesus factor, in 1937, thus enabling physicians to transfuse blood without endangering the patient′s life. We all owe Lansteiner a huge debt of gratitude.
Blood grouping saves many lives – please know your blood group this #WorldBloodDonorDay2015
To blood donors around the world –
Happy World Blood Donor Day!
Did you celebrate World Gin Day yesterday?
Gin-lovers worldwide toasted World Gin Day with a classic British gin and tonic as exports of our national spirit reach a record £390 million, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said yesterday.
Exports of top-class UK gin have risen by 37% in the past five years, with sales to 139 countries bringing £1.76 billion to our growing economy. The UK is the biggest exporter of gin in the world and 70% of our gin goes to discerning drinkers overseas. In 2014 we exported enough gin to make over 1.6 billion gin and tonics.
The British spirit once nicknamed ‘mother’s ruin’ has become the sophisticated tipple of choice for cocktail fans the world over, featuring in specialist gin bars from Melbourne to Madrid.
A world away from Hogarth’s infamous Gin Lane, premium gin brands like Tanqueray No. 10 and Hendrick’s now account for over a quarter of the UK gin market, with sales of premium bottles up nearly 50% in the two years to 2014.
A host of British micro-distilleries are creating superior spirits to feed the global taste for gin, pioneered by Sipsmith, which in 2009 became the first new copper distillery to open its doors in London since 1820. Today there are more than 35 established micro-distilleries across the UK, and new ventures are springing up every month. Shops and bars around the world now feature small batch British gins concocted in boutique distilleries from Edinburgh to Newquay alongside household names like Gordon’s, Beefeater and Bombay Sapphire.
Welcoming the latest export figures, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said: “Our gin will be enjoyed around the world this weekend thanks to the vision and innovation of our distillers, who have pioneered a global revival of this quintessentially British drink. It’s fantastic to see so many new British businesses making first-rate products for export, contributing to our long term economic plan and helping to build a strong economy here in the UK. The UK’s reputation for excellent quality means our gin is the first choice for martinis in bars the world over.”
Nicholas Cook, the Director General of the Gin Guild, which lists the details of 80 different types of UK gin in its online ‘Ginopedia’, commented: “Gin is a firmly-established part of British culture, dating way back to the early 17th century and some of our distilleries have been producing gin since then. Many new distilleries have emerged over the last few years, reflecting the new interest in gin, either enjoyed with tonic or as a key ingredient in fashionable cocktails.
“A gin and tonic, perfect for the summer months, should be well served, with plenty of ice, a good garnish and a quality chilled tonic water, or alternatively enjoyed as a refreshing cocktail.”
“Craft distillers Warner Edwards have been creating artisan spirits in a converted barn on a Northamptonshire farm for two years, winning a number of awards—including being named one of Defra’s 50 Food Stars and reaching the final of this year’s BBC Food and Farming Awards.”
Tom Warner, co-founder of Warner Edwards, said: “Our strong first year’s trading has doubled year on year ever since, so we are in significant growth. Export is a big focus for us now and as a result we are working closely with UKTI. Our business target is to export 70% of our volume in line with the industry. Currently we are in the Benelux region, Italy and Switzerland with a few more markets in our sights.
“The future of UK gin is bright—the quality is exceptionally high and the new wave of distillers are creating some really interesting flavours. Brand Britannia is a very strong quality standard and none more so than in gin!”
Gin is the latest in a long list of export successes for the UK—food and drink exports were worth nearly £19 billion last year. Innovation is thriving, with around 16,000 new UK food and drink products introduced every year—second in the world only to the US.
Food and drink remains the country’s biggest manufacturing sector, with the food chain contributing £103 billion a year to our economy and employing 1 in 8 people.
On this miserable Sunday morning, indoor climbing seems like a really good idea …
Some of Europe’s finest young climbers are taking part in the IFSC European Youth Championships at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho this weekend.
Around two hundred and fifty climbers from more than 25 different countries are competing for medals on ‘The Hanger’, ‘Speed Wall’ and the ‘North West Wall’.
Each event has a variety of categories including age, gender and discipline at the EICA:Ratho, which is managed on behalf of the Council by Edinburgh Leisure.
The Youth Cup began yesterday and action kicked off again early this morning – the event runs from 7:30am – 4pm today with the awards ceremony at 3:30pm. Visitors can drop in and out at any time.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture and Sport Convener, said: “I am delighted that Edinburgh is hosting this exciting event at EICA:Ratho. It is a fantastic climbing venue with world class facilities and residents can attend the event and watch it for free. Young climbers will show off their skills and you can cheer them on and learn all about climbing at Ratho and the skills you can develop.”
Visit Edinburgh Leisure for further details. If you can’t make it along, the competitions will be streamed live here.
