Day: October 30, 2017

Awards for All support for Spartans Connections

£677,000 National Lottery boost helps bring community plans to life

An island community with big plans to transform phone boxes into vibrant tourist hubs is among a hundred groups across Scotland today sharing in £677,936 of National Lottery good cause cash today. Local project Spartans Connections (above) is also among the winners, netting £5000 to develop their programme for adults with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and mental health challenges. Continue reading Awards for All support for Spartans Connections

Can we tackle poverty? Yes, we CAN!

Aspiring Communities Fund support for local project CAN

Community and third sector projects have been allocated a share of £29 million, to find new ways to tackle poverty and improve people’s lives. Among them is North Edinburgh’s Community Action North (CAN), awarded over £200,000 from the Aspiring Communities Fund. Continue reading Can we tackle poverty? Yes, we CAN!

Stroke Association: soaring costs show it’s time to change the story

New figures from the Stroke Association reveal that the current annual cost of stroke to Scotland could be £1.6 billion. The UK’s leading stroke charity is warning that, without immediate action, this figure may almost triple to £4.6 billion by 2035. Continue reading Stroke Association: soaring costs show it’s time to change the story

Simon turns jail time into an award-winning experience

A nursing student who honed his talents while working with prisoners and drug addicts has been honoured for his outstanding caring skills. Simon Hunter, 33, who graduated from Edinburgh Napier last week with a BN in Nursing with distinction, has been named this year’s winner of the university’s Simon Pullin Award. Continue reading Simon turns jail time into an award-winning experience

Call for volunteers to join fight against dementia in Edinburgh

Passionate volunteers in Edinburgh are being asked to come forward to help form a new fundraising group to support Alzheimer’s Research UK. The UK’s leading dementia research charity is looking for people with a range of skills to help set up the group, which will aim to raise vital funds and awareness across the region. Continue reading Call for volunteers to join fight against dementia in Edinburgh

Holyrood call for greater support for new build homebuyers

Committee hears ‘homeowner distress’

After hearing from distressed homeowners, a Holyrood Committee is today calling for more homebuyer support – particularly for new build homeowners – in the event of building defects and poor build quality. In a wide ranging report, the Local Government and Communities Committee identified a number of improvements that could be made to building regulations and fire safety standards in Scotland. Continue reading Holyrood call for greater support for new build homebuyers

Small steps towards citizen say in council budget planning

Joint commitment to 1% participatory budgeting target

People across Scotland are to have a say in how  £100 million of council funds will be used in their communities. Council leaders have agreed that at least 1% of local government budgets will be subject to participatory budgeting by the end of 2021, giving communities more influence than ever to make decisions on how  funding is spent in their localities.  Continue reading Small steps towards citizen say in council budget planning