Some pictures from Muirhouse Library’s successful Open Day. Story to follow:
Author: davepickering
Singing Scots at Royston Wardieburn
PYCP summer programme unveiled
Pilton Youth and Children’s Project’s Summer Programme is hot off the press and it’s packed with fun activities for the holidays.
From barbecues and fun clubs to movie clubs and summer snowboarding (!) – and trips to the Fringe, Blair Drummond and Laser Quest, too – there should be something to keep children and young people happy over the summer.
Spaces for trips are limited and priority will be given to existing service users; sign up day is Friday 6 July from 10am – 3pm.
For further information telephone 332 9815, visit PYCP’s website at www.pycp.co.uk or email summer@pycp.co.uk
Youth Music Initiative to launch at North Edinburgh Arts
On Thursday 28th June 7-8.30pm, North Edinburgh Arts is hosting an urban music event for young people 12 and over. This will launch the Youth Music Initiative (YMI) Demo Fund projects and highlight other music opportunities happening in the centre. The scheme will give young musicians and bands the chance to record demos in the studio absolutely free.
Creative Scotland’s YMI Demo Fund, supported by the Cashback for Communities proceeds from crime money helps young musicians working independently by giving them access to professional sound recording facilities enabling them to record a professional demo. This is North Edinburgh Arts second Demo Fund project and we hope to build on the successes of last year by engaging a whole new group of budding musicians and songwriters.
From 7 – 7.30pm, Muirhouse Youth Development Group (MYDG) will host the first part of the evening with drinks and refreshments served by our young café volunteers. There will be lots of activities on offer and a live performance by South African singer/songwriter Rosita Rhodes. From 7.30pm the internationally acclaimed Tiako Drummers, Patrick Walker (Forward Strategy Group) Jay Cash (Grime & Dub-step) and Danny Ladwa (Beat Boxer) will perform. All of these musicians will be involved with aspects of the Demo Fund and other music projects in North Edinburgh Arts. We hope this dynamic line-up will inspire and encourage our local young people to get involved.
David McDonald, Youth Arts Manager at Creative Scotland, said; ‘The creative strand of the CashBack programme has allowed eighteen recording studios across the country to open their doors to our young musicians, giving them access to professional standard recording facilities. Creative Identities also supports high quality dance and film projects throughout the country. The Cashback for Communities initiative has enabled us to re-invests the proceeds of crime back into communities to make a real difference to the lives of our young people’.
For more information on this or other projects please go to our website at www.northedinburgharts.co.uk or email marketing@northedinburgharts.co.uk
GYC's Fame Academy needs YOU!
Granton Youth Centre have been developing their arts provision over the last couple of years and have created two successful pieces of theatre – Split Second and Just Like Everyone Else. Fame Academy is the latest opportunity for local young people to create their own piece of theatre that could potentially become as successful as previous productions.
The project offers young people aged 12+ the chance to try out various art forms including drama, music, film and set and costume design.
Heather Marshall explained: “GYC needs you! We’re looking for young people aged 12+ who would like to create their own show. Rehearsals will take place at GYC and will include:
Theatre
Music
Movement
Film Set
Costume design
You can sign up to perform or help backstage:
Monday 2 July 1-4pm Thurs 5 July 1-4pm
Monday 9 July 1-4pm Thursday 12 July 1-4pm
Monday 16 July 1-4pm Thursday 19 July 1-4pm
Monday 23 July 1-4pm Thursday 26 July 1-4pm.
This is your opportunity to create a brand new show!”
GYC’s Fame Academy needs YOU!
Granton Youth Centre have been developing their arts provision over the last couple of years and have created two successful pieces of theatre – Split Second and Just Like Everyone Else. Fame Academy is the latest opportunity for local young people to create their own piece of theatre that could potentially become as successful as previous productions.
The project offers young people aged 12+ the chance to try out various art forms including drama, music, film and set and costume design.
Heather Marshall explained: “GYC needs you! We’re looking for young people aged 12+ who would like to create their own show. Rehearsals will take place at GYC and will include:
Theatre
Music
Movement
Film Set
Costume design
You can sign up to perform or help backstage:
Monday 2 July 1-4pm Thurs 5 July 1-4pm
Monday 9 July 1-4pm Thursday 12 July 1-4pm
Monday 16 July 1-4pm Thursday 19 July 1-4pm
Monday 23 July 1-4pm Thursday 26 July 1-4pm.
This is your opportunity to create a brand new show!”
Letter: Better Together?
I do not vote for any of the major political parties. It was interesting to read about the Scottish Labour MSPs joining up with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to promote the “Better Together” campaign about the Independence vote due to take place in 2014. Here we have the main leaders of political parties in Scotland – Johann Lamont, Willie Rennie and Ruth Davidson spearheaded by Alistair Darling – trying to convince the Scottish electorate that Scotland would be better as part of the UK Union.
We are all aware that Scotland has only one Tory MP who sits in the Westminster Government, so do the Conservatives really have a mandate in Scotland? Are we “Better Together” while the Tories make their immoral and unfair cuts to welfare reforms, pensions and the health service? Are we “Better Together” when the English governments lead us into illegal wars?
We have an English chancellor who has made so many u turns in his budget since it was announced. George Osbourne has also threatened Scotland that, should they vote for independence, we will not be able to use the pound sterling. Then again he may do yet another u turn on that decision!
At the launch of the “Better Together” campaign we saw around forty Scots who have little to do with politics support the campaign. Does this handful of people speak for the whole Scottish nation?
The SNP have informed the nation that the Queen would still be head of state should Scotland vote for independence. If this occurs, should there not be a vote by the Scottish people who we should have as head of state? The Queen’s title is Elizabeth II of England – not Scotland, Ireland or Great Britain.
Do not forget the terrible Poll Tax that the English Tories endorsed in Scotland during the Thatcher years and was only withdrawn when it was imposed in England after riots on the streets of London. How can the Scots forget the closure of all the industries in Scotland due to Tory rule? During that time Labour and other political parties were urging our nation never to trust them (the Tories) again. Now here we have the Scottish Labour Party trying to convince the electorate that we are “Better Together” in the United Kingdom! Better for who? Their own political careers!
Do not underestimate the Scottish electorate by trying to pull the wool over their eyes. Remember the SNP were elected by a big majority at the last Scottish Election. The LibDems were annihilated at the recent council elections due to their national policy of “jumping into bed with the Tories”. I await the forthcoming debates with bated breath.
Anna Hutchison
What do you think? Better together or apart? Would it make any difference? Do you care? Will you vote in the referendum? Let us know!
Dunedin Canmore kicks off Changing Lives campaign
A local housing association has launched a new campaign to help young people and homeless adults in Edinburgh break the cycle of unemployment and poverty – through sport. Dunedin Canmore Housing Association and Street Soccer Scotland have joined forces in a bid to give hundreds of youngsters and excluded adults the confidence to move into employment or education through the Changing Lives campaign.
The Edinburgh-based social landlord says Changing Lives will help build the self confidence and motivation of youngsters, as well as homeless adults, by plugging existing gaps in employability services.
Kicking off the campaign, Dunedin announced it will be major sponsor of the Scottish Homeless World Cup Team. Dunedin will provide a £10,000 boost to support the team, trained and managed by Street Soccer Scotland, as they head to the prestigious annual tournament in Mexico this August.
Changing Lives is already delivering a raft of community projects, including personal development courses and healthy living events for communities around Edinburgh offering advice on mental health, sexual health, housing, employment and training.
Under the partnership Dunedin will provide specialist accredited training as part of Street Soccer Scotland personal development and training programmes – and plans to open up volunteering, training and job opportunities to people coming through Street Soccer Scotland programmes.
Gavin Edmonds, Community and Business Initiatives Officer at Dunedin Canmore said, “We are proud to launch the Changing Lives campaign with Street Soccer Scotland and excited to kick it off with our sponsorship of the Homeless World Cup team again this year. Ultimately the goal of all the projects we do as part of Changing Lives is to give people the self esteem and life skills to help them to make a better life.”
David Duke, Chief Executive of Street Soccer Scotland said, “At Street Soccer Scotland our motto is positive change through football. By working with Dunedin we will be able to have a bigger impact and change lives of more people. And thanks to their sponsorship we will be able to secure training for the Homeless World Cup team as they head to Mexico.”
Dunedin Canmore and Street Soccer Scotland are also bidding for funding to set up programmes throughout Edinburgh as part of Football Works which will be aimed at young people aged 14 – 19 who are deemed to be going into a negative destination when leaving school.
Changing Lives – a lifechanger for Peter
Peter Dante (pictured above) is 41 and lives in Leith.
He gets support from employability worker at Dunedin Canmore and says this has helped him to turn his life around. He has background in crime, addiction and homelessness.
Peter became team captain for the Salvation Army hostels tournament and went on to organise a mini tournament for hostels teams in Edinburgh in 2012. And last year he started volunteering at Street Soccer Scotland and went into rehabilitation. Now he is now doing a Street Soccer Plus programme, delivered as part of the Changing Lives partnership between Dunedin Canmore employability support and Street Soccer Scotland.
Peter is doing an HNC in Working in Communities at Jewel and Esk Valley College, coaching young people at Bathgate Academy, voluntary work with adult literacy project Glory and Dismay and has started an employment trial with the Marriot Hotel. Peter has also reconnected with his son and started rebuilding his relationship.
Haven summer fun day for dads and kids
News of fun events is coming in thick and fast! The Haven Project, based at Craigroyston Primary School, is holding a Summer Fun Day for dads and kids on Thursday 12 July from 11 – 2pm.
Dads, bring your kids along and enjoy a barbecue, bouncy castle, fun and games.
If you would like more information or you plan to attend, call The Haven Project on 332 9269 or email nick.smithers@circlescotland.org
Summer Fayre at Living Well tomorrow
Living Well North Edinburgh – formerly PROP Stress Centre – are holding a Summer Fayre at 5 West Pilton Park tomorrow (Thursday) from 12 – 3pm. There’s a great raffle and lots of fun activities – telephone 343 6375 or email admin@livingwellnorthedinburgh.org.uk for more details.