davepickering

Which Council services are important to you?

We want to continue to invest in services that matter most to our residents. But with reducing budgets, rising costs and increasing demand, we need to do things differently and more efficiently while saving £143 million by 2028/29.

We want to hear residents’ views on:

where we can save money
where we’re doing well
where we need to improve.

Your feedback and suggestions will help us to develop proposals to balance our budget. They’ll also help Councillors understand your needs and priorities when they make decisions about how to spend the city’s budget.

How to get involved

You can fill in our online budget survey or come along to any of our drop-in sessions around the city. You don’t need to book and can come any time between 10am and 1pm.

Tuesday 7 May 10am to 1pm – Morningside Library, 178-182 Morningside Road, Morningside, EH10 4PU
Tuesday 14 May 10am to 1pm – McDonald Road Library, 2-8 McDonald Road, EH7 4LU
Tuesday 21 May 10am to 1pm – South East Locality, 40 Captain’s Road, EH17 8QF
Tuesday 28 May 10am to 1pm – Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street, EH11 1BG
Tuesday 4 June 10am to 1pm – South Queensferry, 9 Shore Road, South Queensferry, EH30 9RD
Tuesday 11 June 10am to 1pm – North East Hub, 101 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DS
Tuesday 18 June 10am to 1pm – North West Locality, 8 Pilton Gardens, EH4 4DP
Tuesday 25 June 10am to 1pm – South West Locality, Westside Plaza, EH14 2ST

Man jailed for serious sexual assault

A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to 4 years in prison for a serious sexual assault on a woman in Edinburgh on Sunday, 19 December, 2021.

Toby Gayfer was sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Friday, 3 May, 2024) following his conviction on 5 April, 2024.

Detective Inspector Keith Taylor said: “This was a hugely distressing experience for Gayfer’s victim and I hope that today’s sentencing will provide her with some closure.

“He now faces the consequences of his despicable actions.

“I hope this sentencing sends a clear message that this type of violence will not be tolerated. We are wholly committed to tackling sexual crimes and bringing those responsible to justice.

“I’d encourage anyone who has been a victim of such crimes to come forward and report it to us, regardless of when it happened.

“We’ll thoroughly investigate and have specially trained officers and partner agencies to support you throughout.”

Digital record of the Coronation unveiled for the first time in history

The Coronation Roll is the official record of the Monarch’s accession and crowning

King Charles III’s Coronation Roll presented to Their Majesties The King and Queen on Wednesday by Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and Antonia Romeo.
The Public will be able to view the Roll online.

For the first time in history people will be able to explore a digitised version of the Coronation Roll through a new UK Government project.

The Coronation Roll is the official State record of a monarch’s accession and Coronation. The Roll contains details of The King’s accession, the planning of the Coronation, and a detailed description of the ceremony. Rolls include the monarch’s oath to govern according to the customs and laws of the realm, and detail the ceremonial of the coronation – the prayers, the service, the blessings, the order of service, and official guests. For centuries the roll has been authored by the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery.

The practice of creating rolls for monarchs’ coronations dates back to Edward II in 1308. Originally they were written in Latin and French. Rolls have been written in English from the seventeenth century and Charles III’s will be the first to be digitised to allow new generations of people to view it.

Visitors to the site will be able to view video and photographs from the Coronation and exclusive interviews with many of the key participants including Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Lord President of the Council Penny Mordaunt and Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk.

Charles III’s Coronation Roll was authored by Antonia Romeo, the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery.

It was produced by skilled craftspeople: hand-written by calligrapher Stephanie Gill, and decorated by heraldic artist Timothy Noad with national symbols of the United Kingdom including the English rose, Scottish thistle, Welsh leek and Northern Irish Shamrock. Rather than traditional vellum, it was created on high-quality animal product-free paper.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and Antonia Romeo presented the new Coronation Roll and its digital version to Their Majesties The King and Queen at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. Their Majesties also viewed several historic rolls: Elizabeth II’s, Victoria’s, William and Mary’s and Edward II’s.

Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, said: “The Coronation Roll is a beautifully illustrated record and an important document of the accession and Coronation of Their Majesties The King and Queen.

“The Coronation marked a new chapter in our national story and it reflects the very best of our national traditions – which are admired the world over.

£For the first time, this Coronation Roll will be digitised – bringing the tradition into the twenty-first century and giving as many people as possible the opportunity to see it.”

Charles III’s Coronation Roll will be stored with other coronation rolls in the National Archives.

New home for Edinburgh School Uniform Bank

In the wake of a flood, the ESUB has made a significant location change, moving from our previous address at 1 Waterfront Avenue to a new home at 1 Lochside View, Edinburgh Park.

This move ensures the continuation of the vital service we provide to the community, offering school uniforms to families in need.

In our new location, we are set to carry on with our important work, undeterred by the huge challenges posed by the flood.

A New Tartan for Scottish Borders

The Covid-19 pandemic changed the lives of everyone in Scotland, but the ways by which it affected each community were unique. Remembering Together is a national project which seeks to give each of Scotland’s 32 local authorities their own way to remember and mark their experiences of the pandemic.

On 31st May, the Scottish Borders Remembering Together project will unveil the new Borders Together tartan marking the varied experiences of the Covid pandemic on the Scottish Borders area. Commissioned artists Two Destination Language worked with around 700 Borderers across an 18 month period to develop the idea and design.

The unveiling event celebrates the weaving of the tartan for the first time along with its use in creative projects across the area as it begins its distribution to community spaces across the Scottish Borders.

Since the Scottish Borders Remembering Together project began last autumn, over 700 contributions have helped shape the decision to create a new tartan, and what that looks like. These resulted in two designs which draw on the experiences that Borderers shared as well as the particular colour and design ideas they contributed. Borderers voted on the final design at the end of 2023.

During the process, many people in the community spoke about Borders landscapes: the sea, rivers, lochs and reservoirs; the brilliant skies of 2020’s spring and summer; and the brightness of gorse, broom, heather and forests.

There were also references to the uniforms of health and care workers, the masks and warning signs of the pandemic. People shared loss, grief and guilt as well as the challenges of isolation, while others spoke of hope and a new-forged community.

The design draws on colour combinations selected by contributors and incorporates a reference to the five localities of the Borders with many participants wanting the tartan to be something that joins people across the whole region.

Lead artist Katherina Radeva said: “When I saw the new tartan on the loom for the first time, I burst into tears. For me, the design is layered with the hundreds of stories which people have shared across the project.

“It honours lives lost, it respects the extraordinary labour of those whose work filled with new challenges, and it contains the multitude of ways people moved forwards individually and together.”

Following the public vote to select the tartan, a callout was made for community groups to apply for grant funding for creative proposals which enhance the tartan’s accessibility.

Ten groups have now been chosen to develop their ideas.

More information of the selected groups from across Scottish Borders can be found here: https://www.twodestinationlanguage.com/rtb

Inspirational veteran dad inspires runner to achieve lifelong ambition

Teri Evans, 47, from Stevenston, recently fulfilled a lifelong dream by participating in the London Marathon.

Teri was inspired to run in the marathon by her army veteran Dad, Alexander Duncan, who started to lose his sight a few years ago due to macular degeneration and is now supported by Sight Scotland Veterans.

Teri explains: “My Dad has been incredibly fortunate to receive invaluable assistance and support from Sight Scotland Veterans since he began experiencing vision loss.

“The charity’s help and support has been so important in maintaining his independence and enabling him to engage in daily activities. It has provided him with essential equipment like screen readers, daylight lamps, driving glasses and a digital magnifier for reading that he uses regularly and is very grateful for.

“Additionally, he regularly attends the Seamill Veterans Sight Support Group, which he really enjoys as it allows him to connect with fellow veterans and individuals coping with sight loss.

“I was so proud to be running the marathon for my dad and to raise money for Sight Scotland Veterans, it was great to give something back to the charity for all the help they have provided.

“We also arranged with Sight Scotland Veterans that all the money I raise would stay in Ayrshire, so that my dad and the group he attends could benefit, as he was in my thoughts a lot of the way round the 26.2 miles.”

Alexander Duncan, who was in the 4th Royal Tank Regiment for 14 years adds: “I’m so proud of Teri for running the marathon and for raising money for Sight Scotland Veterans.

“The charity has helped me with lots of things and I love going to my group each month, I can’t thank them enough.”

Teri’s love for running started when she was 40, when she decided to take part in a couch to 5K. She then built her way up to running a 10K, then a half marathon, and then ran the Edinburgh marathon 2 years ago.

Teri, who works as a Student Experience Team Lead at Ayrshire College, says: “I never used to run, and would never have believed I would be running marathons a few years ago.

“But I have just built up my fitness and endurance and now regularly attend Irvine Running Club. It was through the running club that I got my spot in the London Marathon, as they got an entry, and my name was picked out of a hat.

“Running a marathon takes over your life, as there are so many changes you need to make, like a strict training plan to follow and changing your eating habits, but it is definitely all worth it. London is the iconic marathon that every runner dreams of taking part in, so it was a lifelong dream! I also ran in 05:07:11 which was a personal best!”

Teri has raised over £1000, plus gift aid, for Sight Scotland Veterans. Sight Scotland Veterans provides free support to armed forces veterans affected by sight loss in Scotland to help them regain confidence, restore their independence and make new connections.

For more information please visit sightscotlandveterans.org.uk or call 0800 035 6409.

Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre celebrates Future Fun Day success

Celebrating Success!

Our Future Friendly Fun Day last Saturday was an absolute blast!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made it a roaring success! We raised an amazing £229 through our tombola and bake sale! This will help fund Summer activities which were suggested through our feedback board on the day.

A huge shout out to our fantastic volunteers who helped us make this day happen. And a big thank you to everyone who donated items to our tombola, and the bakers who dropped of delicious treats!

Finally, a huge thank you to Frank Francia, Ama-zing Harmonies, Scottish Communities Climate Action Network, Edinburgh School Uniform Bank, Moving Music, National Galleries of Scotland, Tummies Not Trash and Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) for partnering with us and providing activities, food and entertainment for this fantastic day!

If you have any photos from the day that you’d like to share please post them in the comments or send them over to us! We’d really appreciate it

Let’s keep the spirit alive and continue to build an even stronger, more vibrant community together!

#NorthEdinburgh

#CommunitySuccess

#NoOneLeftBehind

Unique Assembly get green light to deliver Capital’s winter festivals for next three year

Councillors have today unanimously agreed to award the contract for the delivery of Edinburgh’s world-famous winter festivals for the next three years.

Subject to a ten-day standstill period, the contract will be awarded to a consortium led by Edinburgh-based event producers, Unique Assembly.

The contract covers the production and delivery of Edinburgh’s Christmas for 2024/25 and then for Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay festivals until 2026/27, with the opportunity for two optional twelve-month extensions. The delivery of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay for 2024/25 was already agreed in June 2022 and will also be undertaken by Unique Assembly.

The procurement process followed a ‘lessons learned exercise’, which led to a renewed focus on bid quality and enhancements to the sustainability, environmental, and community impact requirements of bids.

The full report is available on the council website.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “I’d like to congratulate Unique Assembly following today’s unanimous decision by councillors. They bring decades of experience in delivering major events, including our own Winter Festivals, and I’m confident that they’ll provide a fantastic service to the city over the next three years.

“The festivals occupy a central element in the cultural calendar of our city and delivering them well for our residents and visitors remains a key priority for us – not least given the huge enjoyment they bring each year.

“They also deliver substantial economic benefit for the city and for Scotland more widely, supporting jobs and businesses in many sectors most notably tourism, hospitality, and leisure.”

Two new speakers announced for Children in Scotland conference

Teen cancer survivor and advocate Molly Cuddihy and Natalie Don MSP join impressive line-up for Children in Scotland Annual Conference 2024

Children in Scotland has today revealed two more speakers for its Annual Conference 2024, with teen cancer survivor and advocate Molly Cuddihy, and Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise, Natalie Don MSP, joining the packed lineup of expert voices.

Held on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 May at Murrayfield Stadium, the flagship event will bring together delegates, partners and supporters from across the children’s sector, providing opportunities to exchange ideas, network and learn.

Addressing the conference with a keynote speech on day one, Molly Cuddihy is a passionate advocate for the rights of children and young adults, particularly those living with and progressing from cancer and other serious illness, having been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer when she was just 15 years old.

Currently a Youth Ambassador for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Molly has a wealth of experience to share with the conference. As co-founder of the charity Every Thank You Counts, and co-ordinator for the acclaimed Radio Therapy podcast, which covers themes including mental health, body image and mortality, the inspiring teen will provide fresh perspectives on topics close to her heart.

Speaking on day two of the conference, Natalie Don MSP, Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise, will discuss a range of issues relevant to children and young people, and the wider sector, providing valuable insights.

Natalie Don MSP said: “I’m really looking forward to what is set to be another amazing event run by Children in Scotland.

“I was lucky enough to be invited to their 30th Anniversary Networking event last year where I had the pleasure of meeting a number of past and present staff members, and engaged with the amazing members of the Changing our World children and young people’s advisory group.

“As this inspirational group has been heavily involved with the development, planning, and workshop selection for the upcoming conference, I know it will be a very interesting and thought-provoking event where experts in a wide variety of areas can get together to discuss issues impacting children.”

Alongside powerful keynote speeches, informative panel discussions, and engaging workshops, children and young people’s voices will be central to both days of the Annual Conference, with representatives from Changing our World (CoW) co-chairing the programme.

Ensuring attendees hear directly from the young Scots they work with and for every day has been a key goal for Children in Scotland when planning the Annual Conference 2024, and further highlights of the programme include co-designed workshops and interactive sessions, covering everything from supporting neurodivergent children to suicide prevention, Artificial Intelligence, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, learning through play, youth homelessness, and many more topics.

New home for Hidden Door

An office space which has been vacant since 2021 will receive a colourful lease of life when the organisation behind the Hidden Door Festival takes up a new residency.

Councillors on the Finance and Resources Committee have agreed to lease the council-owned building at 133 Lauriston Place for the next 10 years to the Edinburgh-based arts charity, which is currently planning a festival later in 2024 to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

They will use the space as an office and creative hub, undertaking repairs to the building while they lease it, in exchange for a favourable rental price.

Finance and Resources Convener, Councillor Mandy Watt, said: “This is a building which needs a lot of work so it hasn’t been occupied for the last few years. I’m delighted that Hidden Door have agreed to take it on and make it their own.

“Known for rejuvenating spaces into vibrant venues, I’ve no doubt they will create an inviting creative hub here. The venue is situated just a short stroll away from the art college and other fantastic venues like the Cameo and the Usher Hall, so the opportunities for collaboration are countless.

“We’re pleased to support a well-loved community arts charity in this way. The permanent location throughout the term of this lease should provide them with greater security and stability and a more accessible building everyone can enjoy.”

Hazel Johnson, Hidden Door’s Festival Director, said: “This is a hugely exciting and important step for Hidden Door – a hub from which to plan our activity and festivals will enable us work more closely with Edinburgh’s creative communities, all year round.

“As a volunteer-led charity, this is a huge milestone – and the timing couldn’t be better, as we both celebrate 10 years of Hidden Door festivals, and look to the future. We can’t wait to get in and get cracking!”