Hi all,
Getting the story of MY Adventure out is important, so I have put together an introductory blog! More to follow from the whole MY Adventure team so keep an eye on it!
Go to
http://www.myadventure.org.uk/welcome-to-my-adventure/
All the best,
James Howell, Director
Learning event sets out steps for a more inclusive community
More than fifty people representing a wide range of community organisations attended Positively Diverse, a learning event organised and co-hosted by Forth Neighbourhood Partnership and the Living in Harmony group at Spartans Community Football Academy last week.
The event was organised to give local organisations an opportunity to look at how they operate and to encourage them to be more inclusive.
Keynote speaker Dr Giovanna Fassetta is a leading member of Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migation Network (GRAMNET).
http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/gramnet/
Rather than bamboozling the conference with high-brow academic research, she started by asking delegates how they make a cup of tea, and where they store their jam and their eggs!
The responses showed that there is no one ‘right’ answer – that different people prefer to do things differently and that we often just do things the way we’ve always done them. There are a number of ways of doing things that can be equally successful – and that is also true for working well across different cultures.
Dr. Fassetta (above) has a wealth of experience, both as an academic and as a volunteer (including sessions at Dungavel detention centre), and she used a string of anecdotes to get her key points across:
Dr Fassetta concluded: “So you don’t need to be an expert to be able to respect different cultures and understand diversity. What you have to do is relax, be curious, be open – and ask. Ask questions. Yes, you may feel uncomfortable at first but these feelings can be overcome – and that can make you grow as a person.”
North Edinburgh has a proud history of welcoming people into the community, and conference delegates saw a short documentary on the successful Muirhouse Against Racism (MARC) campaign.
Back in the 1990s MARC was a grassroots reaction to the emergence of racism in the area. Local people came together to support a black family who had been subject to abuse from racists and campaigned to change thinking and letting practices within the city council’s housing department.
It was as a result of this campaign that the Black Community Development Project (BCDP) was formed in North Edinburgh. BCDP later became CORE (Community Organisation for Racial Equality) but that community organisation was forced to close due to a lack of funding in 2012.
The closure left a void – the need for an organisation to work to support the BME community and encourage community integration remained as great as ever, and Pilton Community Health Project established the Living in Harmony group to meet this need.
The Positively Diverse event, while recognising achievements of the past, concentrated very much on the present – and, in particular, what individuals and organisations can do to create a welcoming community.
Local residents (above) shared their sometimes painful stories of life in their new communities – of barriers, of lack of opportunities and of the frustration of being unable to find employment suitable to their skills and abilities.
But although challenges undoubtedly remain, many organisations across North Edinburgh have been successful in adapting their programmes and services to become more inclusive and welcoming.
Speakers from Muirhouse Medical Centre, Create at North Edinburgh Arts, North Edinburgh Libraries (below) and Spartans Community Football Academy (their promotional film was particularly well received) all told participants about the range of things they have done and are doing to create a more inclusive community: it’s clear that good things are happening – sometimes small, simple things – and that the will is there to become even better.
Conference delegates were asked to make pledges, and in the spirit of taking practical steps towards a more inclusive community, Forth councillor Vicki Redpath made three pledges on behalf of the local council office.
She told the conference: “We’ve heard so much today to make us think. We don’t know everything and we must all constantly reflect on what we’re doing and think of ways we can do things better.”
She went on: “Things have changed, things are changing but we must not become complacent – there are still challenges out there. And that’s why I am so encouraged by what I’ve heard from the organisations represented here today.”
And on the pledge theme, Cllr Redpath (above) concluded: “As we’ve all been asked to make pledges, here are some I will make on behalf of the council.
“We provide a lot of housing, and our tenants pack contains pretty basic information at the moment. We could be adding information about medical practices, dentists, libraries, schools, youth clubs and sports facilities to the tenants pack – and update it regularly.
“Employment problems have been raised today: one simple thing we can improve is the notice board system at the local office. We can make it simpler with a nice big headline – JOBS – and underneath it a bulletin of vacancies. Let’s put job vacancy notices outside, too, let’s get information out there – and not just council jobs.”
“And finally, speakers today have talked about difficulties in accessing services and getting information. We do equalities and diversities training at the council, but I want to make sure this training is effective and up to scratch. Our people are brilliant and they want to provide the best service they can and I will be working with colleagues to ensure that we improve our service.
“If we all do a little, we can all go a long way to improving the lives of the people who come to live here in the great North Edinburgh community.”
Commenting after the event, PCHP’s Anita Aggarwal (above) said: “A big thank you to everyone who contribute and helped it be such a successful day.
“We will be producing a report of the day which we will send out as soon as possible. If people are looking for further information about the barriers that BME residents face there are two reports on our website: ‘Living in Harmony’ 2012 http://pchp.org.uk/resources/living-harmony-report and ‘Talking about our Health’ 2009 http://pchp.org.uk/resources/talking-about-our-health-participatory-research-project-health-needs-bme-community-greater
“The next Living in Harmony forum will take place on Wednesday 28 October from 5 – 7pm at PCHP – all welcome and crèche available if booked in advance.
“We will be running Equalities and Diversity training three times before the end of March – 20th Nov, 22nd Jan, 25 March all from 9.30am – 1pm at PCHP – further information will be available on our website.”
So, to recap: what we can do next
Make A Pledge
If you couldn’t attend Positively Diverse or didn’t get a chance to fill in a pledge postcard but would still like to, please fill in the postcard below and send it back to lih@pchp.org.uk
And if you filled in a postcard but might have forgotten to put your name and address on it (yes, there were a few of you..!) please let us know and we will try to match you up with your card!
Join the Living in Harmony Forum
All are welcome to come along and it would be a great place to follow up conversations that were started at the event. The next Forum meeting is on Wednesday 28th October 5-7pm at PCHP (73 Boswall Parkway).
Equality and Diversity Training
Delivered by ELREC – if you didn’t get a chance to sign up for one of these FREE sessions there are still spaces, so please do email lih@pchp.org.uk to book a place for yourself or a colleague.
The dates for the training sessions are 20 November, 22 January and 25 March – all 9.30am -1pm at PCHP (you only need to attend one session!)
More pictures will appear on our Facebook page later
Muirhouse Mini’s Fun Day
Tuesday 13 October 10.30 am -1.30 pm. (Admission 50p)
Why not join in with a fun day here at the Centre with the Mums and children of Muirhouse Mini’s?
Arts & Crafts – Cold Baking – Hallow e’en Crafts -Fun & Games -Baby Play Activities – Make Your own Play Dough.
All children must be accompanied by an adult
James McGinty, Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre
Tackling low pay and zero hours contracts: new guidance will promote fair work
The Scottish Government will today formalise its commitment to making Scotland a fairer place to work with new statutory guidance for public sector procurement. The move has been welcomed by the STUC.
The document represents the first time any administration has gone as far, and ensures that public sector procurements can take account of the fact that employers whose staff are treated fairly are likely to deliver higher quality services.
Those bidding for public contracts will now be expected to adopt fair work practices, which may include –
The Scottish Government is prevented by EU procurement law from making the Living Wage mandatory in contract agreements, but the new statutory guidance means that companies who want to secure business with public bodies are now obliged to sign up to these fair work conditions for anyone working on the contracts.
Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown will launch the new guidance in his speech to the Procurex national procurement conference in Glasgow this morning.
He said: “The commitment to making Scotland a fairer place to work is a key tenet of this government, and our new statutory guidance for public sector procurements sees us nail our colours to the mast.
“Our model of procurement, putting the social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainability at the heart of all we do, remains the foundation of our approach.
“Employers must now recognise that they cannot adopt exploitative practices in relation to their workers and expect to be rewarded with lucrative contracts in the public sector.
“If you want to do business with the public sector in Scotland, you have to be a responsible employer and value your workers. You have to do your bit to make Scotland a fairer and more equal society.
“We will continue to do everything in our power to promote that ethos.”
The news has been welcomed by those representing workers throughout Scotland.
Grahame Smith, General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said: “The STUC welcomes the Statutory Guidance on Fair Work Practices being introduced by the Scottish Government, a move that once again highlights the different approach taken by the Scottish Government in tackling poor employment practices and low pay in the Scottish economy.
“The Scottish Government has taken the lead in driving forward the real Living Wage as have local authorities and we believe it is right that companies wishing to receive public contracts should demonstrate that they treat staff fairly by paying a living wage, recognise the benefits of trade unions and collective bargaining and treat their workers with the dignity and respect they deserve.
“The Fair Work Agenda and the approach taken by the Scottish Government to promoting positive industrial relations as being key to economic success is thankfully at odds with attacks on trade unions at UK level and these statutory guidelines provide public bodies the opportunity to ensure contractors understand what is expected from them, as part of the public procurement process, and their role in delivering fair work and good terms and conditions for Scottish workers.”
The Fair Work Convention was set up last year to ensure there are more good quality, well-paid jobs at all levels throughout the public, private and third sectors.
Fair Work Convention Co-Chair Anne Douglas (above) said: “The Fair Work Convention believes it is vital that work which provides individuals with opportunity, fulfilment, security, respect and effective voice and balances the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees. In doing this we can generate real benefits for individuals, organisations and for society more widely.
“It is therefore important that the Scottish Government uses all its levers to promote fair working practices and the Convention welcomes these being reflected in statutory guidance.
Linda Urquhart, the Convention’s other Co-Chair, continued: “The Fair Work Convention is currently engaging across Scotland, with business, employees, union, third and public sectors as well as society more generally to help evidence fair work and the basis from which the Fair Work Framework for Scotland will be created.
“Following the publication of their Framework in March the Fair Work Convention will welcome an opportunity to work with the Scottish Government to further this approach.”
Scotland’s biggest volunteer recruitment fair takes place in Edinburgh tomorrow
For most people at this time of year thoughts are turning to pumpkins and fireworks, but for Volunteer Edinburgh there’s only one thing on our minds – and that’s the annual Volunteer Recruitment Fair at St Paul and St Georges Church!
As usual the hall will be filled with stalls from charities and volunteer involving organisations from across the city representing the wide range of volunteering opportunities Edinburgh has to offer.
There are environmental groups; arts organisations; opportunities to work with people from both ends of the age spectrum; charities who deal with poverty and exclusion both here and abroad; animal welfare groups as well as organisations campaigning to raise awareness and funding for a variety of health issues.
With over 50 diverse groups taking part the chances of finding something to get involved with are pretty good and the opportunity to speak to directly to volunteers and organisers helps develop a much greater understanding of the organisation’s work and passion and commitment involved.
As well as the stalls, volunteer advisors will be on hand to help you with any questions you might have about volunteering and, for those looking to volunteer as a step towards employment, there will be workshops to help improve employability skills, C.V. writing and job hunting techniques.
There will also be special workshops on equality rights, and volunteering opportunities for older people.
And If all this information gets too much there will, as always, be delicious food and (non-alcoholic) drink on hand in the café, so you can rest and digest!
So if you want a break from thinking about ghosts, bonfires and premature tinsel and you’re looking to give a present a little more substantial than a pair of socks, then here’s the perfect opportunity to give some very grateful organisations the gift of you!
For more about the Volunteer Recruitment Fair, visit the Volunteer Edinburgh’s website, orFacebook page. You may also want to have a look at the photos from last year’s Volunteer Recruitment Fair here.
A free informal learning event for older people this evening
The third series of RBS: Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes returns to STV tonight to celebrate people whose tireless effort, resourcefulness, and kindness has improved local communities across Scotland.
The series, sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, begins with a special launch show tonight at 8pm – RBS-How to be a Real Hero, where actors Jayd Johnson and Ron Donachie catch up with four winners from the 2014 series to see how being voted a winner has changed their lives, and the projects they work with.
The show also gives advice to viewers on how they can get involved in helping in their local communities and become real heroes themselves.
The series continues on Monday 26 October featuring the individuals who have been nominated by the public and selected by a special jury. Across the five episodes, a line up of ‘star reporters’ including Richard Wilson (One Foot in the Grave), actress and singer Clare Grogan and Commonwealth Gold medallist swimmer Hannah Miley will visit each of the nominees and interview them about their work in the community and their thoughts on the nomination for an award.
This year’s shortlist includes deserving Scots from across the country, from Stonehaven to West Calder, and Nairn to Cupar. Categories including RBS Community Project of the Year and Hero Animal of the Year will return again this year as well as two new additional award categories including Hero Mum or Dad and Fundraiser of the Year.
At the end of each programme, viewers are invited to vote for the nominees they believe most deserving of an award, with the overall winners being announced at a glittering, star studded televised awards ceremony later in the year.
Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV, said: “The time has come to highlight the outstanding work modestly carried out by each of this year’s nominees. We look forward to celebrating the enormous achievement of each of these individuals who make a real difference in their local community. Each story tells of a remarkable accomplishment and is very moving – all the finalists are considered to be most deserving however it is the STV viewers that decide who will receive an award.”
Chris Wilson, Royal Bank of Scotland’s Managing Director of Branch and Private Banking in Scotland said: “Everyone at Royal Bank of Scotland is looking forward to finding out more about this year’s incredible finalists. We think it’s important to celebrate those people who go that extra mile for their community. Each one of the finalists is deserving of recognition and we are all looking forward to seeing who the public choose.”
The Power to the People group has been busy …
Power to the People is a group for adults in North Edinburgh who are interested in social history, current affairs and the arts.
We have been meeting together since 2012 and enjoy getting together to learn about things we are interested in and getting involved in issues which concern us. The group is friendly, informal and free and new members can join any time.
Over the last year, we have been learning about North Edinburgh’s early history through studying archive material, visiting exhibitions, watching films and inviting guest speakers to our group.
We are currently working on a heritage leaflet and a short film for STV’s history programme documenting key aspects of North Edinburgh’s history which will allow us to share the area’s fascinating history with a wider audience.
We also enjoy getting out and about and going to different places of interest. Last week we went on a visit to Wester Hailes to learn about their social history project.
Over the last few years, the project has been involved in digitising and publicising back copies of the Wester Hailes Sentinal and have established a local blog and Facebook page.
The project have also been involved in developing social history walks in the area in conjunction with Wester Hailes Health Agency and has installed Scotland’s first digital totem pole (above) which contains QR codes which allow people to access further information about the area’s history via a smart phone.
We have recently developed a new programme of information and discussion sessions dealing with issues we are concerned about such as fracking on the Forth, the proposed abolition of the Human Rights Act and the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership (TTIP).
The first of these sessions will take place tomorrow – Tuesday 6 October, from 10am – 12.30 – in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.
The next session will take place early in November and will be held in the evening to allow people to attend who are unable to get to day time sessions. A free crèche will be provided by Royston Wardieburn Community Centre to allow people with children to participate.
We have also organised a screening of the Glasgow Girls, (see above), the true story of a group of school pupils from Drumchapel, who led a successful campaign to save their friend from deportation. The film developed into a powerful human rights movement which resulted in changes in immigration practices in Scotland.
Following the screening of the film, we will be joined by Roza Salih, one of the Glasgow Girls, for a discussion about the issues raised. The screening will take place this Thursday 8 October at 6.30 in North Edinburgh Arts. There is no charge for attending this event and transport and a crèche have been organised. Please call 552 5700 to book.
For those of you who enjoy getting out and about and enjoy the company of others, our next visit will be to the National Library of Scotland on Tuesday 27 October. We will be viewing an exhibition on the life and times of Thomas Muir, a radical political reformer known as ‘the father of Scottish Democracy’.
Anyone wishing further information about the group or any of the activities planned this term should call Lynn McCabe, on 552 5700 (Tuesday – Thursday) or email Lynn at lynn.mccabe@ea.edin.sch.uk
It really doesn’t seem like a year since the last consultation, but here we are again …
Edinburgh residents are being asked for their views on how the Council spends and saves money as part of public engagement on proposals for the 2016-20 budget.
This year people will also get the chance to contribute ideas of their own on how city services are provided, using the online ‘Your City, Your Say’ dialogue page.
The web page will form part of a ten-week engagement period, beginning today, allowing the public to feed back on proposals for the Council’s 2016-20 budget, which aim to address an overall shortfall of £126m.
People will be able to submit suggestions and views on topical issues, creating solutions to challenges and ideas for better serving the public and saving money. Users can also rate and comment on others’ posts, helping the Council to gather opinion on where it should invest in future.
If successful, the resource will be extended after the budget is set, crowdsourcing public opinions on different matters on an ongoing basis.
A new online planner will also seek views on how the Council should deliver services, including the way parking is charged and how the Council works with voluntary and third party organisations.
By prioritising some services using the planner, the public can see how this impacts on other services, and how saving in one area can allow additional spending in another.
Councillor Alasdair Rankin, Finance Convener, said: “We really want to hear how people want the Council to invest and save money – your views will always help us to deliver services in a way that will benefit and improve lives.
“By doing things differently and introducing our new online engagement tools, we’re making it easier than ever for people to contribute their views and ideas, and to understand the different challenges there are in setting the budget.”
Councillor Bill Cook, Finance Vice Convener, added: “Everything you say will be taken into account when we draw up the final budget proposals to be put to the Council in early 2016, so we are extremely interested in hearing your views. Whether it’s via the planner, ideas forum, survey, phone, letter, email or social media we welcome all feedback.”
At a meeting of the Finance & Resources Committee on Thursday 24 September, councillors approved a report on the draft budget, along with a set of budget proposals for public engagement over the coming months.
The full budget proposals, the budget planner and forum tools can be accessed at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/budget.
You can have your say by:
You can do this by:
Game on for Sick Kids Foundation
App development company NN4M has decided to celebrate its 10th anniversary by raising funds for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF) – the charity which provides £1.5 million each year to support the work of Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
Edinburgh-based developers NN4M will take part in the sixth Sick Kids Save Point – the biggest annual fundraising games event which will see volunteers take on a 24-hour video game marathon between 9 and 11 October.
The team of NN4M gamers will participate in this year’s event in a relay-style, playing both online and board games from 8am to 8pm on Friday 9 October. All 30 employees will take part, with employees gaming every 30 minutes in between their usual work tasks.
Harriet Phimister of NN4M, said: “We wanted to do something really special to celebrate our 10th anniversary and felt this is something that would get everyone excited whilst raising money for a fantastic cause. One of our developers participated in the marathon previously and so suggested that we all give it a go.
“We thought we would combine our love of traditional board games and computer games to bring an added dimension to the challenge and can’t wait to complete the marathon. We’re all very excited to participate and raise funds for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.”
Since it was established in 2010, the 24-hour video gameathon has raised more than £70,000 with more than 300 gamers completing the challenge from all around the globe.
This year, funds raised will allow the charity to fund KIDSnet Wi-Fi throughout the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
KIDSnet is a safe internet provider within the hospital that allows to keep in contact with each other, as well as family and friends. SKFF invests £25,000 each year in this service to help children feel less isolated in hospital and ensuring their lives are less interrupted by illness. The Wi-Fi also provides a distraction in the form of games and films – essential to combating the boredom children experience in hospital.
The event continues to grow in popularity, having gathered support from a number of Scotland’s top games companies including Rockstar North and Blazing Griffin, as well as industry giants Codemasters UK, Playstation Access, Paradox Interactive and Capcom UK, who have donated prizes for entrants.
Edinburgh actor Tom Freeman, organiser of the event, said: “With plans afoot to transfer services to a flash new hospital in Little France, the work of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation will be vital in smoothing the transition from a building many people across the country will have strong emotional ties to. That’s why this year Sick Kids Save Point is pushing to have our best year ever.
“Sick Kids Save Point is the biggest charity gaming marathon in the UK. I’m proud we’ve raised around £72,000 for our local children’s hospital. This year we want to get that figure to £100,000 and show the world games are for everyone.
“Don’t believe the naysayers: playing games for 24 hours is not easy! It’s not too late to sign up and take on this unique marathon challenge, playing games past the fun barrier and raising money to support sick children and their families.”
Rachel McKenzie, head of community fundraising at SKFF, said: “I’m thrilled that the developers at NN4M have decided to join our community of fundraising gamers and taking part in our sixth SKSP gameathon.
“Sick Kids Save Point has helped raised a tremendous amount of money over the last five years and we’re extremely thankful to the individuals – and teams – who are getting involved this year as we try to raise a further £30,000 for our KIDSnet equipment.”
To support NN4M visit https://www.justgiving.com/GameathonNN4M/.
For more information about Sick Kids Save Point visit www.sickkidssavepoint.org or follow the event on twitter@SKsavepoint or on facebook at @SickKidsSavePoint.
