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Scotland says No Thanks

The people of Scotland have voted to remain part of the United Kingdom. Voters came out in unprecedented numbers to have their say on independence – and an emphatic majority decided that separation is a step too far.

By 6.15am, with 31 of 32 counts declared, Better Together has 1,914,187 votes while Yes Scotland has 1,539,920 – an unassailable lead.

Edinburgh’s result was declared just before 6am (picture above), and despite predictions that the result would be close, a clear majority of the capital’s citizens voted to remain part of the union. Edinburgh voted No: 194, 638 (60.19%), Yes: 123,927 (39.81%).

Many people believed that the Better Together campaign was too negative and handed the initiative to a vibrant Yes Scotland bandwagon, but voters agreed with the unionist parties that ‘it’s not worth the risk’.

First Minister Alex Salmond will make a statement later this morning, but Nicola Sturgeon told the BBC of a “real sense of disappointment that we have fallen narrowly short of securing a ‘Yes’ vote”.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I’ve spoken to Alistair Darling (pictured above) and congratulated him on a well-fought campaign.” He too is expected to make a further statement this morning.

While the result will be a bitter disappointment for almost half of the nation, there are positives to be taken from the campaign, whatever side of the debate you’re on. All across the country people have engaged in politics once again. This was the campaign where the people took democracy back.

And now, at the end of a gruelling thirty-month campaign that has split the country, it’s time to build bridges. One of the few things on which politicians of both sides agree is that politics has changed forever, and it’s to be hoped that all of the energy, positivity and enthusiasm that was poured into the campaign can be harnessed for the collective good of our nation. There’s an awful lot of work to be done.

Yes, the people have spoken – and this time the politicians really had better listen.

Living in Harmony: the next steps

And this has nothing to do with the referendum aftermath …!

Living in Harmony Multicultural Forum

Come along to help us think about future activities that can bring all our communities together, and hear about what is already going on in North Edinburgh for your community.

Tuesday 30 September 5.30-7.30pm
North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Road

Creche and language support available but must be booked in advance.

Contact Rachel Farrier to book or for more information:

Call 551 1671 or email lih@pchp.org.uk

Capital all set for historic referendum

We’re nearly there. After months of debate and discussion, claim and counterclaim, after tens of thousands of leaflets, millions of words in the press and on social media sites, it’s almost time. The talking’s just about over, the politicians have had their say – tomorrow it’s down to you and me. Decision day …

The world’s eyes will be on Edinburgh tomorrow, and Scotland’s capital is ready to take centre stage and play a leading role on a historic day …

With less than a day left until the Scottish Independence Referendum, Edinburgh is geared up for its role in the historic poll.

Ballot boxes are being collected for delivery to polling places, staff trained and verification of postal votes has begun ahead of the count.

89.6% of postal voters have already cast their vote, with a total of 377,413 people registered to take part in the Referendum on Thursday.

And citizens are being asked to make their own preparations for the day to ensure they don’t miss out.

Sue Bruce, Counting Officer for Edinburgh and Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council, said: “After months of anticipation, the Referendum is finally upon us, and hundreds of thousands of people across the city are about to cast their vote.

“I am really pleased with the high rate of registration, which demonstrates the level of interest in the debate. We have a record number of registered voters in Edinburgh for this Referendum and therefore I would encourage visitors to leave plenty of time to visit their local polling station and to mark an X in the box of their choice when filling out their ballot papers.”

Polling places will be open between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 18 September, though the public are being advised to avoid busy periods, expected to be before and after normal working hours. Where possible, voters are encouraged to visit mid-morning or mid-afternoon.

Information on local polling places can be found on the polling card delivered to homes or on the Council website.

Postal voters who have not yet returned their ballot paper by post will still be able to hand it in at Waverley Court or City Chambers receptions or at an Edinburgh polling place on Thursday.

Those planning to take part in the Referendum are also being advised to take great care when filling out their ballot paper, by marking a single X next to their choice. Additional comments, marks or mistakes can result in a vote not being counted.

Anyone who is registered to vote but, due to unforeseen circumstances, is unable to make it to a polling station, may need an emergency proxy vote, which can be applied for on the Lothian Valuation Joint Board’s website.

Once your vote has been cast

All votes are secure and accounted for so that the final result can be trusted. Every ballot paper, whether used, unused or spoilt, is accounted for and treated as highly sensitive and confidential.

Votes will be counted as soon as possible after the close of the poll at 10pm. Separate counts will be held by each local authority in Scotland with 32 local totals leading to one overall national result.

Full details of vote security and counting are available on the Council website.

Stepping Stones AGM

Award-winning (see previous post!) Stepping Stones North Edinburgh are holding their annual general meeting in

Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre

on Thursday 25 September at 12.30pm.

For further information telephone 551 1632 or email:

info@steppingstonesnorthedinburgh.co.uk

North Edinburgh shines at Achievement Awards

North Edinburgh projects have been highly praised at the 2014 Children & Families Achievement Awards, with local organisations Stepping Stones, Forthview Primary and Circle Scotland among the prize winners.

Winner of the Working Effectively with Others category was the PrePare Fathers’ Group, comprising PrePare, Stepping Stones, South West Children and Families Team and Circle PrePare

Fathers were consulted on what additional support they would like and group work was identified. The aim is to increase paternal involvement in their child’s plan. A collaboration was established between Circle, Stepping Stones, PrePare and SW C&F Team. Together a group work programme was established within the framework and goals set out by the Early Years Collaboration.

Fathers learned about child development and the impact of parental substance use; attachment and resilience; stress and containment and gained a clearer understanding of where they can access support.

Morag Wilson, depute manger at Stepping Stones, said: “A massive congratulations to our Parenting Outreach worker, Anna Chrystal, who alongside her colleagues from PrePare, Circle Scotland and South West Children and Families team won the 2014 Children and Families Achievement Award in partnership working. The judge commented that ‘this innovative project is making a real difference to fathers, and their families.’ They have now been encouraged to put themselves forward for the Pride in our People awards 2014.”

Read all about it: Forthview to the Fore!

West Pilton’s Forthview Primary School won the Improving Literacy Outcomes category for their ‘West Pilton Reads: Developing a Community Reading Culture’ initiative.

The Forthview submission read: ‘Research shows that we only get better at reading by reading, and that we will only read if we want to read. After looking at this research and considering best practice, we investigated ways in which we could create a reading culture around Forthview Primary.

‘The teaching of reading has been unchanged for decades, with no significant improvement in achievement, especially in areas of disadvantage. We decided that it was time for a radical change of approach to fostering the enjoyment of reading.’

Judges were clearly impressed with the Forthview approach, and commented: ‘This innovative project provides help for the whole household, not just for children. An educational support for whole families, it benefits everyone.’

The Director’s Award for Outstanding Achievment went to the Active Schools Team and the Speak Up Speak Out campaign picked up the Convener’s Award.

Children and Families Director Gillian Tee said: “This is our 15th annual achievement awards and, yet again, I have been impressed by the high standard of applications. This year we have had an exceptionally high number of nominations reflecting the huge amount of work that is going on across a wide variety of services. The professionalism and commitment shown in providing the highest level of service for every child and family across Edinburgh was clearly evident.”

A full list of winners and nominees can be found below:

Achievement_Awards_Brochure

Housebuilder finds new home … for plants!

Miller Homes donates plants to community groups

Miller Homes has helped two local community groups’ gardens grow. The house builder, which has been developing Varcity South near Crewe Toll for the past seven years, is adding the final apartments to the award-winning development and has donated some of its plants to the Columcille Centre and North Edinburgh Grows.

The perennial plants, including flax and lavender, will continue to be enjoyed as they have now been planted in the community groups’ gardens.

Anne Marie Britton, Scotland Area Sales and Marketing Manager at Miller Homes, said: “As we make way for the final properties at Varcity South we needed to remove some of our plants, many which were established as they had been planted seven years ago. As a result, we decided they should still be enjoyed which is why we donated them to the community groups.”

Westminster pledges more powers if Scotland says NO

Unionists are ‘Desperate’, says Yes Scotland

The leaders of the three main Westminster parties have signed a “vow” for more powers for Scotland if it rejects independence. David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg have signed the letter which appears on the front page of today’s Daily Record. However Yes Scotland leaders have dismissed the move and say that only a vote for independence on Thursday can secure for Scotland the powers it needs to create jobs, save the health service and build a better society.

The Westminster leaders’ pledge promises ‘extensive new powers” for the Scottish Parliament’ delivered by the process and to the timetable agreed’ by the three parties – ‘devo max’ by any other name.

Last week former prime minister Gordon Brown – who has taken an increasingly prominent role in the Better Together campaign – set out his proposed schedule for new powers to be transferred to Holyrood. He said three guarantees in particular must be locked in: to guarantee new powers to the Scottish Parliament, to guarantee fairness to Scotland and to guarantee the power to spend more on the NHS if that is the wish of Scottish people.

The unionist party leaders in Scotland then jointly endorsed the timetable for the new transfer of powers from Westminster to Holyrood, and this was followed by today’s Cameron, Clegg and Miliband ‘vow’ .

In their ‘Promise to Scotland’ letter, the party leaders say they agree that “the UK exists to ensure opportunity and security for all by sharing our resources equitably across all four nations”.

The joint letter also states: “And because of the continuation of the Barnett allocation for resources and the powers of the Scottish Parliament to raise revenue, we can state categorically that the final say on how much is spent on the NHS will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.”

However independence supporters have dismissed the Westminster leaders’ ‘promise to Scotland’ as ‘desperate’.

Alex Salmond said he did not believe the letter would persuade the people of Scotland to reject independence, and a Yes Scotland spokesman said: “It’s clear that Project Panic is willing to say anything in the last few days of the campaign to try to halt the Yes momentum – anything except what new powers, if any, they might be willing to offer.

“The reality is that the only way to guarantee Scotland gets all the powers we need to create jobs and protect our NHS is with a Yes vote on Thursday – so that we can use our enormous wealth to create a better and fairer country.”

It’s more than likely that there will be yet more twists and turns, one last throw of the dice, as Thursday approaches. The latest Panelbase poll shows Better Together on 47% , Yes Scotland on 46% and – crucially – 7% undecided. It really is down to the wire.

Craigie Amateurs call for community support

Craigroyston Amateurs is your local adults football team, based in Craigroyston Boys Club on Muirhouse Parkway.

We currently have 19 registered players and play in the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association (LEAFA) Edinburgh Central League. So far this season we have played five games and our stats sit at four wins and a draw, and we have upcoming games in the East of Scotland Cup and The Scottish Cup.

What we would like is to get the whole area behind our guys – build a following, so to speak – so if you have a spare afternoon on a Saturday and enjoy a good game of football, come along and support your newest and freshest amateur team in the area!

The club also has teams at age levels from 08s to 00s …

Check out our website for more details

www.craigroystonamateurs.co.uk

Places still available for PEP’s minibus training

Accredited Minibus Training (MiDAS)

limited places still available for Thursday 16 October

Pilton Equalities Project (PEP) is registered with the Community Transport Association funded through the City of Edinburgh Council and recognised as the community transport operator for the North Edinburgh quadrant. We are a partner of the Edinburgh Community Transport Operators Group (ECTOG) PEP, Dove Transport, SEAG, LCTS, & Handicabs.

MiDAS is the nationally recognised Minibus Driver Awareness training Scheme, organised by the Community Transport Association U.K. (CTA) which promotes a nationally recognised standard for the assessment and training of minibus drivers. It is a membership based scheme that is designed to enhance minibus driving standards and promote the safer operation of minibuses.

It comprises low cost classroom-based training, plus an on-road driving assessment, as well as optional Passenger Assistance training (PAT’s) for drivers who will be transporting passengers with disabilities.

Criteria: a) Aged over 21 years, and (b) Held a full Driving Licence for 2 years.

As places are limited, for further information on any of our courses call our trainer

Theodora Hidalgo on 0131 315 4466 or email:

pepequalities@btconnect.com

theopepequalities@hotmail.co.uk

PEP ahas ten accessible minibuses and applies a good practice model ensuring the Health & Safety of its passengers