St David of Scotland Episcopal Church in Royston Mains Place is holding a coffee morning and sale on
SATURDAY 9 APRIL from 11am
to raise funds to support UNICEF’s work with children in Syria and beyond and child refugees across Europe. All welcome.
Day: March 28, 2016
Ring any bells?
Angus Hardie’s article in the latest issue of Local People Leading gives food for thought:
Here’s a cautionary tale of two charities. Both deliver drug and alcohol services but that‘s where the similarity ends. Lifeline is based in Manchester, delivers services across the UK, employs around 700 staff and generates a turnover in excess of £42m – 26% up on last year. The Castle Project is based in the Craigmillar estate of Edinburgh, generates an income that just about covers costs, and for the past 27 years its only priority has been to serve the needs of that community by developing a complex network of support for its clients.
The DNA of these two charities could not be more different. Lifeline, driven by an insatiable appetite for growth, successfully tendered for the contract previously held by the Castle Project. Having to compete for ‘market share’ is anathema to the Castle Project and so it will close its doors next week – 27 years of local knowledge and experience thrown out with the procurement bath water.
In our Vision paper (below) we call for a thorough reappraisal of how services are procured and for a new premium to be placed on services that are genuinely locally based. Local By Default isn’t just a slogan – it’s part of the solution.
Best wishes
Angus Hardie, Director
Letter: Save adult single ticket books!
Dear NEN
As an organisation responsive to the needs of vulnerable people I thought that you might be concerned by the decision of Lothian Buses to stop selling books of adult single tickets.
These tickets are bought by a number of services including many hostels, day centres and food banks. These tickets are used to enable individuals to get to health appointments and engage with vital services.
This decision by Lothian Buses restricts the ability for services to offer such provision. Lothian buses say that paper tickets bought in advance make up less than 1% of total sales. However, these less than 1% are made up of some of the most vulnerable people in our city.
Please sign if you agree with this petition by clicking the link below:
Please circulate around your networks. If you have any questions about this then please email me.
Also, if your service is impacted by this then please let me know how.
Many thanks,
Paul Stevenson
Email: mrpaulstevenson@gmail.com
Trinity Academy publishes school magazine
Trinity Academy pupils have produced the first edition of The Writers’ Block, a new school magazine.
S6 pupil Callum Watson, who edits the magazine, is already looking forward to the follow up issue and is inviting contributions from the school community. Good luck with the new venture, Trinity!