Month: February 2017

Council prunes back garden waste service

Collections of garden waste will be changing for residents across Edinburgh from March. Brown bins will now be collected by the City of Edinburgh Council once every three weeks all year round, instead of every two weeks in the summer and four weeks in the winter.
The council says the change will result in more consistent collections throughout the year.
The change to the service was agreed as part of last year’s budget in order to enable the service to continue running despite increasing financial pressures. Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “We know how much the garden waste service is valued by residents and that’s why we continue to provide it.
“These changes to the frequency of collections will result in more consistency throughout the year, but will also enable us to keep providing this service, which I know has not been possible for all Councils amidst increasing financial constraints.”
Stickers and tags will be applied to bins over the coming weeks to remind residents of the change, and 2017 bin calendars can be downloaded from the Council website, detailing the date on which three-weekly collections begin.
In some cases there will be an interim collection before the three-weekly collections begin. The residents concerned will receive a letter informing them of the date of this interim collection.

Any extra waste which can’t be fitted into bins can be taken to local Community Recycling Centres in Sighthill, Seafield or Craigmillar.
Find out more about bins and recycling, including bin collection calendars, on the Council website.

 

One Day without us: Edinburgh set to celebrate migrants’ contribution

1DayWithoutUs is a national day of action on 20th February 2017 to recognise and celebrate the contributions migrants make to the UK.
We ask the British public to consider – what would one day in the UK look like without our migrant communities? And we call for a show of unity against racism, xenophobia and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Events are taking place all over the UK and the Scottish public can join in the celebrations in Edinburgh or create their own.
This day is for EU migrants, non-EU migrants, refugees, those of migrant heritage and their supporters.
The national campaign is a grassroots organisation and all our members are volunteers, who have given up their own time and effort to make this day happen!
How to join in the celebration
We know that some migrants are planning to take the day off work as part of a labour boycott. Others are celebrating in their workplaces with their colleagues with cake, flags and badges.
For supporters with little time we ask for participation on social media posting using the hashtag
#1DayWithoutUs
Public events in Edinburgh today
From 1:30pm Protest point at the Mound in the city centre.
Open Mic, Meet the Migrant.
Migrant organisations in Edinburgh promote their work to the public
Music, art and poetry.
From 5:30pm Protest point at the Mound in the city centre.
Main Candle lit gathering, Speeches.
Public participation in the ‘Message to/from a Migrant’ project.
Message to/from a Migrant project
Writea ‘Message to/from a Migrant’ on luggage/gift tags, bring them to the Mound on the 20th, where they will be tied to the railings.
Or if you prefer via our Google form https://goo.gl/f2R2lf and we will publish messages on our Day of Action via social media.
Workplace celebrations In Edinburgh
TODAY (20th February)
The Royal (Dick) veterinary school & Roslin institute & Easter Bush Science Park = International cake competition @ 2pm Prize giving.
University of Edinburgh – Multiple school celebrations
Queen Maragret University – Multiple school celebrations
EUSA – join walk out @11am: ‘Stand up for Migrants and walk out against Trump’
’
Moray House School of Education @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Drop-in event for staff and students.
Video
https://youtu.be/Ul_LmbLyado
https://www.facebook.com/1DayWithoutUs/videos/1305874062798491/

Charities partnership launches homelessness initative

Cyrenians are excited to launch a new venture in partnership with the St Martin-in-the-Fields charity. The St Martin’s Frontline Network is designed to bring together workers on the frontline of homelessness in Edinburgh and will provide a space for mutual support, sharing best practice, and engaging with public policy.  In time, the Frontline Network will nurture an innovative and collective response to tackling homelessness in the city. Continue reading Charities partnership launches homelessness initative

Three year Equality funding will support ‘vital work’

Three year rolling funding is being made available to third sector equality and violence against women and girls organisations for the first time, providing security to vital services. All funding under the Scottish Government’s Equality Budget will move from one year to three years, providing vital reassurance to organisations that prevent violence against women and girls, as well as those who work to tackle hate crime and discrimination, increase representation and enhance community cohesion. Continue reading Three year Equality funding will support ‘vital work’

Care Day roadtrip for Childcare Minister

Minister for Childcare and Early Years Mark McDonald  spent the day travelling across the country to meet with care experienced young people as part of National Care Day yesterday. The journey formed part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to have a conversation with 1000 care experienced people during the next two years. Continue reading Care Day roadtrip for Childcare Minister