A drive to tackle rubbish, fly-tipping and dumped trade waste on city streets was kicked off this week. The second phase of the Our Edinburgh initiative, which aims to address anti-social behaviour like littering, has begun in the Leith Walk area, identified as a hotspot for overflowing bin complaints. Continue reading City cleanup initiative targets Leith Walk
Ho Ho Ho! Christmas is just around the corner and the Edinburgh Leisure elves have been busy planning some festive fun across Scrambles, Clambers and Tumbles’ soft plays.
With fun-filled parties, a glittering grotto, an action-packed pantomime and much more, there’s something that will bring some festive cheer to all age groups:
Clambers at the Royal Commonwealth Pool
Santa’s Grotto
Visit Santa in his enchanting grotto at Clambers at the Royal Commonwealth Pool Party Room, where children will make their own reindeer dust, write a letter to Santa and finish with their Santa visit where they will receive a gift.*
Date: 17th and 18th December
Time: 10am – 4pm (30 minute slots)
Cost: £6.00 per child (£2.50 for under 1’s)
Who: 0-10 years
*Clambers will operate as normal
Clambers Christmas Party
Christmas bells will be jingling and the elves will be singing as Edinburgh Leisure invite the little ones to join in their Christmas party, jam packed with festive fun, including a disco, face-painting, gingerbread decorating, arts and crafts and of course, a visit from Santa, who present each child with a gift.
There will also be prizes for the best dressed.
Date: 21st and 22nd December
Time: 4pm-6pm
Cost: £11.50 (under 1’s £5.00)
Who: 0-10 years
Tumbles at Portobello
Tumbles Christmas Party
Two hours to burn off some Christmas excitement in Tumbles’ soft play at Portobello, plus a disco to boogie on down to and lots of festive party food. Not only that, the man in red will be there with a present for every child.
Date: Sunday 11th December
Time: 3pm-5pm
Cost: £11.50
Who: 0-10 years.
New Christmas Craftivator – NEW for 2016
Struggling to find the time to get the last of your Christmas shopping done? Drop the kids off at Edinburgh Leisure for a morning or afternoon full of crafts and soft play to allow time to blitz those last minute tasks.
Date: 23rd Dec (9-12pm or 1-4pm) and 24th Dec (9-12pm)
Cost: £10 (includes snack)
Who: P1 – P7
Scrambles at EICA: Ratho
Dick Whittington Panto
Caplin Gold Pantos will be presenting an afternoon filled full of fun, sing-a-long songs and comedy, as children are taken on the magical adventures of Dick Whittington; one not to be missed.
Date: 23rd December
Time 1-3pm and 3.30-5.30pm
Cost: Under 2yrs free
Single ticket £7.50
Family ticket 2 adults & 2 children £26
Who: The whole family
Breakfast and lunch with Santa
The children’s eyes will light up with delight as Santa joins them for breakfast or lunch and listens to their Christmas wishes before presenting them with a gift. After they eat, Santa will join in some festive party games before they finish with a relaxing story about Christmas.
Breakfast:
Date: 24th Dec
Time: 9.30am – 11.00am
Cost: £12.95
Who: 0-7 years
Lunch:
Date: 24th Dec
Time: 12.30-2.00pm
Cost: £12.95
Who: 0-7 years
Book now!
Booking is advised. Call or visit reception at the individual venues to book your tickets.
Clambers, Royal Commonwealth Pool – Telephone: 0131 667 7211
Scrambles, EICA:Ratho – Telephone: 0131 333 6333
Tumbles, Portobello – Telephone: 0131 669 0878
Last year’s event
Some of the country’s top chefs will team up with Cyrenians and Edinburgh College to lay on a gastronomic spectacular and raise money for people excluded from family, home, work or community tomorrow evening. Continue reading Creme de la creme: Top chefs to take part in Cyrenians Cook Off
The UK Government must use the Autumn Statement to reverse its freeze on benefits and the damaging reduction of the benefit cap, and ensure low income families will not face any further welfare cuts Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has said.
He urged the Chancellor to reverse the further lowering of the benefit cap which came into force last week – which the Chartered Institute of Housing’s recent report estimates will affect up to 20,000 children in Scotland, and to reconsider the on-going freeze to working age benefits and cuts to work allowances in Universal Credit.
Mr Mackay also asked for confirmation that the UK Government will not add to the welfare cuts already planned to be imposed on Scotland which are expected to reduce annual spending on social security by around £1 billion by 2020.
Mr Mackay said: “Low income families have faced the brunt of the UK Government’s damaging welfare reform agenda to date so it’s only right that the Chancellor provides some reassurance that they will be protected from further attacks in the Autumn Statement.
“The impact of cuts and changes to benefits over the last few years, alongside a discredited sanctions regime, has widened the poverty gap, left families on low incomes worrying about putting food on the table, heating their homes and paying their bills, and driven the rise in the need for foodbanks.
“With £1 billion expected to be annually cut from benefits by 2020 UK Government policies will plunge significant numbers of households into financial difficulties – the UK Government should recognise it has squeezed enough from the welfare budget and low income families.”
Social Security Secretary Angela Constance added: “We will continue to urge the UK Government to reverse changes to the benefit cap and the on-going freeze to working age benefits as it is harming our poorest households.
“We are already spending £100 million a year in mitigating the worst of the welfare cuts inflicted by the UK Government, including fully protecting people from the bedroom tax. This is money which would be far better spent on lifting people out of poverty.”
Celtic and Scotland footballer Scott Brown officially opened the new sports hall at Cramond Primary School yesterday. Scott cut the ribbon of the new £1m building with Head Teacher Helen Donaldson and the school’s eight Primary 7 house captains. Continue reading Great Scott! Cramond Primary scores with new sports hall
With December just round the corner, all voluntary sector managers are thinking about just one thing … no, funding!
The next Meet the Funders event is on Thursday 8 December
http://www.edinburghnp.org.uk/about-nps/funding/meet-the-funders/
‘Meet the Funders’ is a free marketplace event providing access to funding information for community projects. It is an opportunity for groups to discuss their ideas with potential funders and collect a range of information about possible sources of grant aid. The event also offers the groups an opportunity to meet and work together.
All Welcome
Free drop in event open to the public from 11am to 2pm
Heart of Midlothian Football Club’s Gorgie Suite
Tynecastle Stadium, McLeod Street
The final list of funding organisations is:
For further info contact Jim Pattison : Partnership Development Officer : Forth Neighbourhood Partnership : North Edinburgh Local Office, 8 West Pilton Gardens, EH4 4DP : direct dial- 0131 529 5082 jim.pattison@edinburgh.gov.uk
A nurse from St Columba’s Hospice is today presenting information on how to have a ‘digital death’, at the national conference for health and social care practitioners working in end-of-life care.
Continue reading Edinburgh hospice nurse urges people to consider their ‘digital death’
At least 25 cars damaged in overnight vandalism attacks
Police are investigating following a wave of car vandalisms across North Edinburgh. A series of incidents occurred overnight between Sunday and Monday and took place across the area -incidents were reported in Granton, Boswall, Trinity and Hawthornvale. Continue reading North Edinburgh hit by car vandalism spree
Hello,
We would like to invite you to our event ‘Do you see?’ This event is being planned and presented by our young parents. They will be launching a film they have made to combat the stigma around being a Young Parent and sharing their experience. This is a chance for them to have their voices he’rd on a topic that has a massive effect on them.
The event will be held on Wednesday 7 December at North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Court.
1pm – 1.30 pm – presentation and film launch
1.30pm – 2.30pm – a more informal chance to speak to the young parents, network and find out more about the services provided by Stepping Stones. Refreshments and nibbles will be provided.
If you can make it along to either the presentation and film launch, and/or for a chat and a bite to eat afterwards , the young parents would appreciate your support.
Please RSVP to info@steppingstonesnorthedinburgh.co.uk
Last week, MSPs and Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) came together to focus on the views and voices of young people in Scotland. The Parliamentary reception focused on the Scottish Youth Parliament’s 2016-2021 Manifesto, Lead the Way.
Lead the Way is based on the analysis of 72,744 consultation responses from young people all over Scotland, and outlines their views on 54 different issues, everything from climate change to physical assault on children. At the reception, Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, got the opportunity to meet with local MSYP to discuss the issues affecting young people, specifically in the area.
Commenting Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, said: “It was a pleasure to meet Lucie, Shannon and Eilidh to hear about the great work they are doing to ensure that young people’s voices are heard in Scotland.
“As Scotland continues to move forward, the Scottish Youth Parliament’s work is extremely important to ensure that children and young people are listened to, at every opportunity, as we continue to build a fairer and more inclusive Scotland.”
Pictured: Lucie Duffy MSYP, Shannon Donoghue MSYP, Ben Macpherson MSP and Eilidh MacKay-MSYP
