Day: September 4, 2019

Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics programme unveiled

The Scottish Parliament will welcome a range of leading public figures such as Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, journalist and broadcaster Andrew Marr, and TV’s Dr Rangan Chaterjee, as part of this year’s Festival of Politics. Continue reading Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics programme unveiled

Book launch – Shafted: The Media, the Miners’ Strike & The Aftermath (new edition)

FREE PUBLIC EVENT / SCOTTISH BOOK LAUNCH & SPEAKER EVENT

for new edition of 

Shafted: The Media, the Miners’ Strike and the Aftermath Continue reading Book launch – Shafted: The Media, the Miners’ Strike & The Aftermath (new edition)

Stormy weather: Mela faces uncertain future

Edinburgh Mela 2019 was held on Saturday the 31st August and Sunday the 1st of September at Leith Links. There were strong winds on the Saturday but sunshine on the Sunday. In terms of public safety the Festival was closed for two hours on Saturday. 
Paid-for Services were regrettably and unavoidably limited on Saturday because of the bad weather but on Sunday the ‘Mela was the Mela’ of a capacity crowd coming in, staying and leaving. Also, children played on fun fair equipment and adults and the elderly sat, stood, talked and ate a wide variety of wonderfully cooked foods.
Here, different people were expressing a common humanity. The Edinburgh Mela remains a local event put on by the Mela Board for the people at no cost. This ‘free’ concept remains important to the Board because no one should be excluded because of not being able to pay an entrance fee. Music, dancing and a fashion show were provided and were enjoyed by people of different cultures. Edinburgh Mela remains a multicultural event.
Funding was Lottery funding. It was limited but greatly appreciated. Council funding and funding from Creative Scotland were sadly missed.
Financially, the Mela may not survive much longer but if the community loses the Mela after nearly 25 years in place, a special way of bringing our multicultural community will be lost.
Such a loss will reduce a sense of belonging. A sense of belonging is an important part of community cohesion and contribution to our society.
The nature of Mela (2019) is captured in the post-Mela clean-up of the Links when a neighbour saw Mela Board members and the Chair Sir Geoff Palmer (above) cleaning and stayed and helped. Turned out her husband, a journalist, had interviewed Sir Geoff Palmer decades ago about his life and race relations.
Edinburgh Mela

Scottish groups hit the Lottery jackpot

Groups from across Scotland are sharing in a bumper package of National Lottery grants totalling £952,883 this morning. 

Across the country, 136 community groups have picked up awards from National Lottery Awards for All – a quick and simple way to access small National Lottery grants of between £300 and £10,000.  Continue reading Scottish groups hit the Lottery jackpot

People Know How shortlisted for £50,000 grant

Dear Friend,

For almost a year now, People Know How has been working in partnership with Polwarth Parish Church towards our shared dream of acquiring a canal boat on the Union Canal and using it as a shared community space to enhance our Positive Transitions Service. If you have been lucky enough to be part of our summer pilot, you will understand why we are so excited about this new service.

I am thrilled to report that we have taken a big step towards making that dream a reality – but we really need your help!

We have been shortlisted by Ecclesiastical Insurance to receive a grant of £50,000 as part of the 2019 MOVEMENT FOR GOOD Awards.

This grant would allow us to acquire a canal boat and recruit a member of staff to develop the All Aboard project on a full-time basis, cementing our partnerships with Polwarth Church and extending the reach of our services.

We are one of 15 projects to have been selected from hundreds of applications, and over the next 2 weeks, our friends, colleagues, and partners will have the opportunity to show their support for our project by visiting the Movement for Good website and voting for us – https://www.ecclesiastical.com/movement-for-good/50k-shortlist/people-know-how/

Please show your support and help us to secure the funding to make 2020 our biggest and best year yet!

Please also share our request with as many of contacts as you possibly can. The more support we can drum up for our application, the greater the chance that the judging panel will be persuaded to make an award in our favour.

We are also running a campaign on social media – please retweet, follow, share, etc.

With excitement and thanks !!

Glenn

Glenn Liddall FRSA

Founder, Chief Executive

525 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH5 2FF

Tel: 07714 586 971 / 0131 569 0 525

Website: www.peopleknowhow.org

Registered Charity No. SC043871

Captain Corsie rallies supporters for Edinburgh Kiltwalk

Captain of the Scottish women’s football team, Rachel Corsie, has urged members of the public to swap their football kits for kilts ahead of the upcoming Royal Bank of Scotland Edinburgh Kiltwalk.

The defender, who led her national team to its first World Cup finals this summer in France, filmed a message of support ahead of the event on September 15.

Rachel said: “Congratulations to everyone who has participated in the Kiltwalk so far this year. Great job! There’s one last event left in Edinburgh on 15 September – please sign up and raise money for a charity of your choice.

“Very generously The Hunter Foundation has agreed to increase whatever you raise by 40%. Get out there, encourage each other, support, donate, walk – do it all!”

Susanne Morrison, Head of Marketing, said: “Rachel, along with the whole Scotland team, were an inspiration over the summer with their performance during the World Cup, and it’s great to see her getting behind the Kiltwalk and showing her support.

“The 2019 Kiltwalk is on track to be bigger and more successful than ever before, and with your help we can surpass the £1million raised for Scottish charities by walkers in Edinburgh last year.”

Kiltwalk has already seen more than 20,000 walkers participate in the Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee events earlier this year and is hoping to raise more than last year’s total of £5million for charities across the country, including the 40% boost from The Hunter Foundation.

The Edinburgh Kiltwalk is the final event this year, taking place on Sunday 15 September. The 24-mile Mighty Stride begins at Holyrood Park, before looping back to finish at the Kiltwalk village at BT Murrayfield. With the 14-mile Big Stroll and the five-mile Wee Wander, there is a walk for everyone.

For more information about the Kiltwalk, or to register, visit www.thekiltwalk.co.uk

Scots prefer spending time on social media than with their older relatives

-Age Scotland launch new Share What You Love campaign to combat loneliness-

New research from charity Age Scotland has revealed a shocking communications gap between the young and old in Scotland, as they launch a new campaign to combat loneliness in the over 65s. Continue reading Scots prefer spending time on social media than with their older relatives