North Edinburgh’s Bangladeshis celebrate New Year
North Edinburgh’s Bangladeshi residents held an event to celebrate the Bengali New Year 1422 at Granton Parish Church on Boswall Parkway this afternoon.
Edinburgh & Lothian Regional Equality Council (ELREC) is supporting the local residents group and they are plan to initiate various engagement activities with the local services and the wider community over the coming months.
This weekend (Sat 18th & Sun 19th April) Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP) are very excited to be piloting a brand new ‘Seated Exercise Training Course’.
This has been developed by PCHP’s Physical Activity Development Worker in partnership with Specialist Instructors and Physiotherapists, in response to long term local need in North Edinburgh (and beyond).
For a number of years the physical activity development work at the PCHP has identified (and attempted to fill) a gap in the provision of regular physical activity for older people in residential homes, sheltered housing and lunch clubs. We strongly believe that every older person should have access to regular and FREE activity sessions that will maintain functionality and improve quality of life.
Please share this around your networks, there are still 3 or 4 spaces available on the training and it would be a real shame to see them go to waste!
Furthermore, since this is the first pilot it is FREE OF CHARGE!
Do you or someone you know work with (or would like to work with) older adults in North Edinburgh?
Do you or someone you know have an interest in and appreciation of the importance of keeping active in later life?
Are you interested in learning about the effects of ageing on the body and how this impacts health?
Would you like to gain new skills and knowledge around leading activity sessions for specialist groups?
Would you like to volunteer to deliver seated exercise sessions in North Edinburgh that might improve the health of older people?
If you can answer yes to any of these questions then this training might be just what you are looking for!
The training will be taking place at Pilton Community Health Project as follows:
Sat 18th April 9.30am-3.45pm
Sun 19th Apr 10.00am-3.15pm
If you are interested in taking part then please get in touch with liannepipskyj@pchp.org.uk or call 0131 551 1671 asap to secure your place!
Healthy regards
Lianne Pipskyj (Development Worker – Physical Activity)
Pilton Community Health Project
73 Boswall Parkway Edinburgh, EH5 2PW
0131 551 1671
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Craigroyston Classes poster April 2015
Our adult education classes at Craigroyston Community High School start back from 27 April and if we do not have enough numbers, the council will cancel classes, so please do encourage people to sign up -use it or lose it!
Also some Lone Parent Scotland cookery classes ongoing at the moment :
Cookery class at Craigroyston Community High School
67 Pennywell Road, Edinburgh EH4 4NL
Run by Lone Parent Scotland
Wednesday 15 April 10am-12.30pm
Making healthy burgers and coleslaw (ingredients all provided) for vegetarians and beef burgers
Thursday 16 April 10am -12.30pm
Making chocolate birthday cake (ingredients all provided)
All lone parents welcome with their children
Fiona Henderson
For all you football fans St Bernards will play their last match at Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre’s pitch at Linear Park on Thursday (16 April) – kick off 6.30pm (writes James McGinty).
The pitch will then undergo the installation of a new drainage system which should allow many more matches to take place in the future.
Edinburgh College student crowned Calumet Student Photographer of the Year
An Edinburgh College student has won the UK-wide Student Photographer of the Year award from photographic equipment company Calumet. Oliver Henderson, who is studying for a HND Professional Photography at the college, beat more than 1,000 students from across the UK to the top spot and a prize of £11,000-worth of photography equipment. Oliver is the first winner of the new competition.
Oliver’s photo is of a woman in a red dress under a spotlight on a rooftop, set against an industrial background. The judges praised the imagination, passion, meaning and flair behind the photo.
Competition judge and managing director of Calumet Photographic UK, Jon Warner, said: “It was extremely difficult to pick a winner as the quality of entries was so very high, but we felt that Oliver’s image (below) not only employed a high degree of technical merit, it is also an image of great impact, creativity and style. The use of light, composition and storytelling really set it apart from some very worthy runners-up.”
Oliver said: “I feel very proud and thankful to the people who have helped me to achieve this, like the tutors at Edinburgh College who constantly push me to realise my potential – although I feel I still have far to go. My inspiration for the image was something my brother once said: “fashion is pure fantasy”, which made me think of science fiction. I loved the idea of aliens spotting this beautiful girl and wanting to try and get close to her in the only way aliens can – it’s kind of weird thought process but there you go! I would again like to thank Calumet Photographic for having faith in me too.”
Jon presented Oliver with his award at the Canon Student Conference at The Photography Show at Birmingham NEC. Canon’s product intelligence professional, David Parry, also judged the competition, alongside professional photographers Rory Lewis and Tom Barnes.
Calumet launched this new competition in January and, over the two-month entry time, saw an exceptional response. Students were given free choice of topic and style, so the competition was open to landscape, portrait, lifestyle and abstract photographers.
The award is in partnership with a host of major photographic brands, including Canon, Manfrotto, B + W, Lastolite, Veho, Rotolight, Bowens, ColorMunki, DxO Software and Eizo.
The winning photo and all of the runners-up can be viewed at www.calphoto.co.uk/studentawards
Edinburgh College offers a range of photography courses, from introductory courses to BA level. Applications are currently invited for these courses and more than 900 other courses across the curriculum offered by Edinburgh College and starting in August on its four campuses.
Visit www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk for more information.
Our website may have been down for the last three months but we have not been forgotten by our public as the centre is inundated by new requests by groups and yes, even more birthday parties! (writes James McGinty).
The volunteers have had to step up the already huge hours they commit their time and talents to facilitate the additional activities, and the Centre remains open and staffed for even more late nights. This is a step forward in the effort to achieve our business plan as submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council.
This Month Bookings include :
Meeting bookings and birthday Parties up until March 2016:
Bookings in advance for meetings from Sacro – Carr Gomm – Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse –Family Support Unit – Muirhouse Housing Association –Community Council – Pilton Community Health Project – Muirhouse Youth development Group – North Edinburgh Community College –I.M.P. – Fresh Start –Community Renewal – Family decision Making – Glasgow Rented Housing Group.
ONE month, FIVE volcanoes, TWO men – and a pick-up truck!
Two Edinburgh ex-Servicemen today (Tuesday 14 April) launched their challenge to raise as much money as possible for Poppyscotland.
Operation Ragnarok will involve driving on tricky off-road terrain to the summits of five or six volcanoes across Iceland in a Mitsubishi L200 pick-up truck during the month of August.
At an event at the outdoor quarry area of the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho, Matthew (Matt) McHugh (26) and Rhys Rowlands (29) undertook training for the treacherous conditions that they will face during their challenge, which included winching their pick-up truck, named Louis, on a rock face at a near vertical angle!
Matt trained as a mine clearance diver with the Royal Navy for two years but had to leave after being diagnosed with a heart condition. After discharge he received employment training support from Poppyscotland.
Rhys served with 2 SCOTS and retired from the Army last year following a serious leg injury sustained while on tour in Afghanistan.
Both men are passionate about the work of Poppyscotland and are raising funds to ensure that serving and ex-Service people and their families can receive support when they need it, both now and in the future. Their challenge is entirely self-funded which means that all money raised will be donated to Poppyscotland.
The name Operation Ragnarok is derived from an old Norse term that is interpreted as Final Destiny of the Gods and the pair are bracing themselves for a tough time ahead.
Matt said: “I have always wanted to see lava and, admittedly, there might be simpler ways to do this but tackling these volcanoes and reaching the summits is going to be a huge adventure and will test our endurance and stamina to the maximum.
“Raising money for Poppyscotland is just as important as the physical challenge. I was helped by the charity to train for a new career and I want to give something back so that they can carry on helping veterans lead fulfilling lives on their return to civilian life.”
Rhys added: “The rocky, off-road environment and varying climate of Iceland will test our resilience, and perseverance. The attributes and skills we learned in the military will help us to operate in this remote area but it will still be extremely hazardous. As a former soldier, Poppyscotland is a cause close to my heart and I really hope people will get behind Operation Ragnarok and donate as much as they can to help the charity continue to make a difference to those in need.”
Poppyscotland’s events fundraiser Marianne Craig said: “We feel privileged that Matt and Rhys have chosen Poppyscotland to benefit from their fundraising efforts. It is a unique challenge and we admire them for their drive and determination.
“We need to raise money all year round to ensure that members of the Armed Forces community can get the help they need to get their lives back on track. We rely on the enthusiasm and imagination of supporters like Matt and Rhys to help us make a difference and we wish them all the best.”
Matt and Rhys have gained sponsorship and financial support from a number of businesses including JÖTTNAR clothing and Belmont Group. The pair are also grateful to Edinburgh Leisure for hosting the launch at EICA: Ratho.
People can donate at www.justgiving.com/Team-Ragnarok or text 70070 with the letters OPRK88£ and the amount you wish to donate.
Find out more at www.operation-ragnarok.co.uk
All aboard for MoonWalk’s tenth anniversary
The Walk the Walk Team was in St Andrew Square earlier today aboard the Lothian Pink Bus specially branded in The Mad Hatter’s Midnight Tea Party theme of this year’s event!
The MoonWalk Scotland is celebrating its tenth anniversary on 13 June at Inverleith Park and organisers breast cancer charity Walk the Walk are inviting everybody to join them by signing up for one of four different challenges all to raise money, raise awareness, get fit and have fun!
The excitement for the Hottest Party in Town is already building with The Red Hot Chilli Pipers set to perform to thousands of women and men as they enjoy the electric atmosphere before they start their Midnight Challenges.
Edinburgh Castle, Lloyds on the Mound and many other iconic buildings in Scotland’s Capital City will be lit up pink on the night in support of the wonderful walkers and volunteers.
If people feel a wee bit timid about taking their first step in a charity challenge, The MoonWalk offers The New Moon (6.55 miles) with children of 10 years and upwards allowed to take part.
Alice Ferguson , aged 12, says: “ Last year, when I was 12, I heard about the New Moon. I really wanted to take part. On the night everything made me feel so special, the atmosphere was so friendly and exciting. In Moonwalk City my mum and I got a massage, had some food, and danced until we began our journey through Edinburgh.
“I remember walking up towards the castle – it was lit up pink – and everything feeling so magical. I will treasure that memory. I am over the moon to be taking part again in this amazing event this year! The New Moon is a simple, fun thing to raise money for something that is definitely not fun and simple.”
Enjoy The MoonWalk Experience without the worry of walking a long distance but anybody looking for a larger challenge can still enter The Half Moon (13.1 miles), The Full Moon (26.2 miles) and Over The Moon (52.4 miles).
To find out more about Walk the Walk and The MoonWalk Scotland visit www.walkthewalk.org/
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre is holding a Table Sale this Friday (17 April) from 11am – 3pm.
Call in to the Centre to book your table or telephone 551 3194 – tables are £2 (large), £1 (small) and it’s just £1 if you bring your own.
The cafe’s open for refreshments and snacks too.
SFRS campaign highlights open water dangers
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has joined with fire and rescue services across the UK in supporting Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Week 2015, which takes place from 13-19 April.
The campaign is focusing on raising awareness of the issue of Cold Water Shock, which causes a number of fatalities every year as young people – even those who are strong swimmers – are unaware of the effect that it can have on their ability to swim in open water.
Even on a warm day, the temperature of the water in a reservoir, quarry or lake can remain very cold and the shock of cold water creates a physical response that can make it more difficult to swim, and can even cause death.
CFOA’s Water Safety Lead, Dawn Whittaker, warned: “While reservoirs, lakes, rivers and other inland water may look safe and inviting, particularly on a warm day, there are hidden dangers below the surface that could make you ill, hurt you, and – at worst – could kill you.
“Cold Water Shock is a physical response that can not only affect your breathing, but will reduce your muscle ability and can even lead to a heart attack. Moving water, such as rivers, may look calm but may have strong currents below the surface which can carry even strong swimmers into danger. And, of course, from out of the water, or above, you may not be able to see dangerous obstructions such as large rocks or dead branches that can cause you injury.
“You may also want to consider the fact that open water is untreated, and may be polluted with bacteria and algae that can give you stomach upsets, or even with organisms that can cause a number of nasty illnesses including Weil’s Disease, Trachoma and Whipworm
The water safety messages that the fire and rescue service will be delivering will, it is hoped, also raise awareness of and support for the great campaigns that the RLSS, RNLI and ASA will be running later in 2015 – the RLSS’ Drowning Prevention Week from 20-28 June, the RNLI’s Respect the Water campaign in July and the joint RNLI/ASA Swim Safe swimming lessons and beach safety advice ‘roadshow’ in July and August.
