CAP to open debt help centre in Comely Bank

Debt counselling charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is launching its third Edinburgh debt help centre in Comely Bank next month.

CAP has partnered with St. Stephen’s Comely Bank Church (above) to extend its award-winning free service to those in need across the city. It joins two other busy centres at Central Church and Holy Trinity Wester Hailes, and brings the total number of CAP centres in Scotland to 22.

Manager of the new Edinburgh centre Claire Baggaley said: “The Church has always been about offering hope and we’re really pleased to be able to give more people a tried-and-tested route out of debt alongside other great free debt agencies in the area.”

“There is a lot in the Bible about looking after the poorest. In our society, a lot of poverty is debt-related so our congregation at St. Stephen’s Comely Bank Church has been working hard to open a CAP centre to help get people back on track.”

CAP offers a uniquely in-depth, caring service to people with spiralling personal debt regardless of their age, gender, faith or background. Every client is visited in their own home; the charity does all the negotiating with creditors and local volunteers offer support to each person face-to-face until the day they are debt free.

Statistics show that one in three callers seeking debt help are feeling suicidal but find huge relief through the non-judgemental service that treats every person as an individual.

The new service will be launched at St Stephen’s on Comely Bank Road on Thurday 10 September.

For debt help call 0800 328 0006 or visit capuk.org

Something Fischy’s going on at North Edinburgh Arts!

Two things that help people of any age get through the ups and downs of life are friendship and music.

A pioneering two-year project, led by acclaimed Edinburgh charities Fischy Music and The Sunflower Garden, to build friendship groups and promote musical creativity for Edinburgh children with family issues, will culminate in a celebration concert at North Edinburgh Arts Centre on Friday (4 September) at 6.30pm.

Weekly after-school projects for four groups of 8-12 year olds have been run since October 2013. These groups have focused on song-writing, discussion and music games as a way of building confidence, making friends and expressing deep emotions about life circumstances that the children may struggle with.

These four moving, quirky and original songs have been recorded onto a special CD, and will be showcased by a professional live band along with selected favourites from Fischy Music – in front of an audience composed of the song-writing children, their families, staff from the two organisations and other invited guests.

“Excited when there’s presents, or going on holiday

Confused when I don’t understand the things that people say

Scared when it gets dark, or going somewhere new

In my house, there are feelings, lots of feelings

Lots of feelings all the time, is that the same for you?

(extract from ‘My House’ composed by project group 2, May 2014)

Scottish Gas hires thirty Smart Meter apprentices

British Gas is set to recruit up to 200 Smart Energy Experts taking the total recruited up to 1,000 this year
Scottish Gas will recruit around 30 apprentices into roles across Scotland
1.5 million smart meters have been installed in homes by British Gas – they are now being fitted at a rate of one every sixty seconds!

British Gas will hire up to 200 apprentices in smart metering across Britain, taking the total recruited to approximately 1,000 this year, it’s been announced. Of those new roles, around 30 will be with Scottish Gas.

The apprentices will join the 1,400 British Gas Smart Energy Experts already installing smart meters in homes across Britain. British Gas expects to continue recruiting in smart metering to complete the nationwide roll-out by 2020.

The apprentices will install smart meters, explain to customers how to use the smart meter in-home display, which shows how much energy is being used in pounds and pence, and provide energy efficiency advice.

Customers will benefit from an end to estimated bills, accurate meter readings and the ability to better understand their energy usage, resulting in potential savings on bills. British Gas is currently trialling Smart Pay As You Go with customers who have prepayment meters. The company is also creating new apps that give smart meter customers information about their energy use on their phone.

British Gas has installed over 1.5 million smart meters in homes across Britain, and is now fitting them at an average rate of one every sixty seconds. More than 117,000 smart meters have been installed by Scottish Gas in Scottish households.

John Craig, Director of Smart Operations, British Gas, based in Edinburgh, said: “This year, we will recruit around 1,000 apprentices in smart metering. We’ve taken the lead in giving our customers more control and insight into their energy use through smart meters. The new recruits will mean we can help even more people benefit from smart meters.”

The new Scottish Gas recruits will receive technical training and will study for the City & Guilds Level 2 QCF Diploma in Smart Metering Dual Fuel. Once they have qualified, they will be ready to go into customers’ homes across Scotland to install smart meters. They will each have their own fully-equipped van, and be supported by the latest tablet and mobile phone technology.

Pictured: Smart meter apprentice, Sam Gibb from Edinburgh – who recently started training as part of this new recruitment drive in the initial 70 Scottish Gas roles.

Pictures by Chris Watt

Creating a more inclusive community? That’s Positively Diverse!

Is your group or organisation fully engaged with the BME community? Would you like to think about ways to do this more effectively?

Forth Neighbourhood Partnership and Pilton Community Health Project’s Living in Harmony Group are staging a Positively Diverse, a free one-day learning event for local workers to encourage and support them to think about how to include a more diverse section of the community in their activities.

The event takes place at

Spartans Community Football Academy at Ainslie Park

on Thursday 1 October from 10am – 3.30pm.

To book your place call PCHP on 551 1671 or email admin@pchp.org.uk

Smalls for All founder is Point of Light

An Edinburgh woman who collected more than 100,000 pairs of pants for vulnerable women and children in Africa has been named a Point of Light by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Maria Macnamara, who now lives in Livingston, founded ‘Smalls for All’ after taking part in volunteer trips to orphanages in Brazil, Thailand and Ethiopia. The charity provides underwear to orphanages, slums, camps, schools and hospitals as well as funding the education of 31 children in Kenya and Uganda.

Ms Macnamara first hit on the pants idea after reading about a priest in Zimbabwe who wrote about how a lack of underwear for communities can cause ‘serious problems’.

The Smalls for All website explains: ‘Not only is it a health and hygiene issue, but women who can afford underwear tend to be seen as having someone who cares for them – a husband, brother or father. They are not on their own so they are not seen as vulnerable.’

Launched by the UK Government last year, Point of Light awards recognise outstanding individual volunteers – people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. So far 325 individuals have received Point of Light awards

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Maria has identified a direct way to make a huge difference in the lives of women in developing countries.

“In just five years she has set up Smalls for All and gathered over 100,000 items of underwear to send to women across Africa.

“It may seem like a small action, but Maria’s work will have had an immediate impact on the daily lives of thousands of women and I am delighted to recognise her service with this Points of Light award.”

Ms Macnamara said: “I am absolutely delighted that the work that Smalls and our supporters has been doing has been recognised in this way.

“I started this charity because I wanted to make a difference. I didn’t want a party or a fuss for my 40th birthday so instead I used the money to take a volunteering trip to Ethiopia. In the UK we take small things like underwear for granted but in Ethiopia I saw what a huge impact it can have.

“In the first few months of setting up Smalls for All, I collected over 10,000 pairs of pants and those receiving them were absolutely overwhelmed. All of a sudden, they can live normal lives again and go to school, go to church, be part of their community.”

Five years on, Smalls for All has now collected 102,702 items of underwear and distributed 75,451 and recycled 10,000 bras.

Supporters continue to help to collect and distribute underwear, both new pants and new or gently worn bras, to women and children in Africa who need it most. No ‘small’ achievement – bra-vo!

Johnstone presses for fracking ban

‘Scottish government must come off the fence’ – Alison Johnstone MSP

$frack$

Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian and a leading campaigner against unconventional gas extraction, is challenging coal gasification firm Cluff over their claim that ‘it is neither necessary, nor in the public interest’ to examine the risks of their plans.

Cluff wrote to all MSPs before Tuesday’s announcement that their plans for drilling under the Forth are on hold, and today Alison replied, challenging the company’s views.

Scottish Green MSPs have been campaigning against unconventional gas extraction – also known as ‘fracking’ – since the 2011 election. Alison Johnstone led Holyrood’s first debate on the issue in May 2014, proposing a ban – all other parties voted against it.

Alison Johnstone MSP said: “Before Cluff got cold feet and announced a delay in their plans, they wrote to all MSPs as part of a charm offensive. Scottish Greens support the many community groups around the Forth who have made their opposition to coal gasification clear, and I have written back to Cluff challenging their claims.

“Cluff have attempted to downplay coal gas disasters elsewhere but I believe we must look at where things have gone wrong to help us understand the risks. We know of serious problems in Australia, resulting in widespread contamination of land. We know investigators were hospitalised with suspected gas poisoning during soil testing.

“It is therefore essential that Cluff lays out in detail the safety record of its projects rather than dismissing concerns out of hand. Cluff also choose to ignore the fact that we already have far more fossil fuels than we can burn if we want to limit climate change.

“Scotland is in a privileged position to end its reliance on fossil fuels earlier than other countries and create many more jobs by investing in sectors such as renewables, green chemistry, home insulation and forestry.

“In the meantime the Scottish Government must come off the fence, extend their temporary fracking moratorium to include coal gasification given it requires onshore infrastructure and turn it into a permanent ban, to protect our communities, our economy and our climate.”

Kerr welcomes New York direct flights

‘ a real diamond route’ – Colin Keir MSP

Colin Keir MSP for Edinburgh Western has welcomed the announcement by Delta Airlines/Virgin that their joint venture will launch a new Edinburgh to New York service from May 2016.

Mr Keir said: “All new routes from Edinburgh are welcome as they boost employment and tourism opportunities, something that is vital to the Edinburgh and wider Scottish economy.

“With direct flights to New York, Edinburgh will link with the most influential global financial centre. Add to this the tourism potential and it makes this a real diamond route.

“Well done to Edinburgh Airport CEO Gordon Dewar and his team for securing this route and to Delta and Virgin for identifying Edinburgh as a positive destination.”

Meet Michelle at Muirhouse Millennium Centre

Edinburgh West SNP MP Michelle Thomson now holds a surgery at Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre (writes JAMES McGINTY)

FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 10.30 – 11.30am

Our newly elected MP in Westminster is back in Scotland after an extensive introduction to Westminster parliamentary procedure, whilst juggling her duties here in Scotland in her constituency.

Many of us have followed Michelle’s exploits via her reports in the Evening News. and Michelle now starts her promised General Surgery here in the Centre (see above).

Come along, no appointment necessary (open door). The surgery will take place in the cafeteria area but will have private space available if required.

People Power: reprieve for Earthy

Success for Canonmills campaigners

Canonmills campaigners are celebrating tonight following a decision by city councillors to reject an application to demolish a popular restaurant to make way for an ‘eyesore’ block of flats.

The planning battle over Canonmills Bridge has raged for over five years. Planning consent has already been granted for six flats, three townhouses and two restaurants on the site currently occupied by Earthy, but the developers still required permission to demolish the existing building because it is in a conservation area.

Save 1- 6 Canonmills campaigners have fought an energetic campaign to oppose demolition and put their arguments to a hearing of the planning committee earlier today.

Campaign leader Jan Anderson, representatives of both Inverleith and Stockbridge and New Town and Broughton community councils, urban designer Ross McEwan, Inverleith Society, the Cockburn Association and local councillors all spoke against demolition.

Committee members upheld the deputations’ views that demolition would have a negative impact on the Inverleith Conservation Area and noted that the scale of the proposed new development is much larger than the current one-storey building it would replace.

Campaigners are naturally delighted with the decision. One said: “The council has got it right this time and common sense has prevailed. We are so happy that the demolition has been halted but we are also very aware that this may not be the end of the saga, as the developer does have a right of appeal. So we have just won the battle, not the war – but today’s victory means we are ready for anything now!”

Have your say on regional development plans

Residents and interest groups living in Edinburgh and the South East of Scotland have been invited to share their views on how to shape the future of the region at a series of engagement events organised by SESplan.

The events mark the second stage of a public consultation launched on 21 July to discuss the Main Issues Report, which will be used to develop plans to accommodate the area’s future growth.

Over the next two decades the local population is expected to grow by 18% and the number of households by 25%.

These events aim to gather views on how to respond to the need for more housing and infrastructure, as well as the potential impact this could have on green belt areas.

Feedback received will help identify the key issues and priorities of people living in the South East of Scotland and will be used to form a strategic development plan for the area. This will inform the Local Development Plan for each local authority area in the region, focusing on long-term strategic level planning matters such as housing, economic growth, green networks and infrastructure.

Councillor Ian Perry, Chair of the SESplan Committee, said: “The South East of Scotland faces serious challenges as a result of population increases and projected future growth. It is vital that we plan now to make sure we have adequate housing and infrastructure, while protecting the environment.

“This means that we have to think creatively and innovatively to find solutions that will help ensure the continued success and growth of the area.

“The response we have received from local residents so far has been very encouraging but there is still plenty of time to have their views heard. I would encourage as many people as possible to come along and take part in this consultation. Their comments will help us to make decisions that play a vital role in shaping the future of the region.”

Further information about the consultation and events can be found at the SESplan website, or by contacting SESplan directly at: contactus@sesplan.gov.uk , telephone 01506 282883.

Community Events

Aimed at Community Councils, community groups and anyone looking to engage in discussions about the Main Issues Report. These events feature an introduction on what SESplan is and what the main issues are,followed by workshop-based discussion. Please let SESplan know if you want to attend.

Wednesday 26 August: Scottish Borders Council, Council Chamber, Newtown Street, Duns 6.30-8.30pm

Thursday 27 August: Waverley Court, East Market Street, Edinburgh 6-8pm

Tuesday 1 September: Bathgate Partnership Centre 6-8 pm

Wednesday 2 September: Portobello Town Hall, Portobello High Street, Edinburgh 6-8 pm

Wednesday 2 September: Fife House, Glenrothes 6-8pm

Thursday 3 September: Waverley Court, East Market Street, Edinburgh 6-8pm

Monday 7 September: Gibson Craig Hall, Currie 6-8pm

Tuesday 8 September: Scottish Borders Council, Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells 6.30-8.30pm

Wednesday 9 September: Business Centre, City Chambers, Edinburgh 6-8pm

Thursday 10 September: Scottish Borders Council, Council Chamber, Rosetta Road, Peebles 6.30-8.30pm

Wednesday 16 September: Midlothian Federation of Community Councils, Middleton Village Hall, Midlothian 7pm

Drop-in Events

Aimed at everyone who wants to find out a bit more about the Main Issues and have a chat with officers. Come along at any time on the time and date shown. No prior confirmation required.

Monday 14 September: Inverkeithing Civic Centre, Fife 3-7pm

Wednesday 16 September: Lasswade High School, Bonnyrigg 3-7pm

Thursday 17 September: City of Edinburgh, Faith Mission Hall, Gilmerton, Edinburgh 3-7pm

Seminar Theme Events

Events about the wider challenges and solutions rather than about SESplan and the Main Issues Report itself; these three events are aimed at the development industry, investors, house builders, social housing providers and those with interests in active travel, energy, town centres or green infrastructure. Advance booking essential.

Friday 4 September: ‘A Place for Communities’ seminar event: Chartered Institute of Housing, Edinburgh 9.30 am-1pm.

Featuring presentations on placemaking in a capital city region; looking beyond housing numbers; the future of town centres; green networks and the coordination of housing delivery with infrastructure provision. Speakers include Craig McLaren, Director RTPI Scotland; Malcolm Fraser, Director Malcolm Fraser Architects; Nicola Barclay, Director of Planning Homes for Scotland and Diarmuid Lawlor, Architecture+Design Scotland

Tuesday 8 September: ‘A Place to do Business’ seminar event: Scottish Enterprise, Apex House, Edinburgh 1.30-5pm.

Featuring presentations on Developing the City Deal; Growth Sectors; Economic Vision in the City Region; the Visitor Economy and the Future of Renewables. Speakers include Graham Birse, Edinburgh Napier University; Dr Andy Kerr, Executive Director, Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI); Chris Greenwood, Head of Research, Visit Scotland; Martin Wight, Manager Strategy and Economics, Scottish Enterprise and Ian Johnson, Head of Communities and Economy, Midlothian Council.

Monday 14 September: ‘A Better Connected Place’ seminar event: City Chambers, Edinburgh 9 am-12pm

Featuring presentations on city deal, the challenges and plans for the regional transport network, delivering infrastructure and active travel. Speakers include Fiona Clandillon, Rydens; Neil Langhorn, Active and Sustainable Transport Team leader, Transport Scotland; Keith Winter, Executive Director, Enterprise and Environment, Fife Council; John Hamilton, Winchburgh Developments/Scottish Property Federation and Alex Macaulay, SEStran