Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Scottish Opera comes to Oaklands

Come with us to a magical, night-time world – take a train ride through the jungle and meet a friendly lion who sleeps under the stars …

Scottish Opera came to Oaklands yesterday – in their pyjamas! The singers were performing SensoryO, a brand new interactive performance rich in sound, rhythm and music – and just ideal for the Oaklands children.

SensoryO’s warm and inviting set introduces young people to live music in a relaxed and intimate environment. The performance features a mix of live and recorded vocal music with percussive sounds, and uses smells, textures and actions along with striking visuals to inspire the imagination and bring the adventure to life.

The performances were hugely enjoyed by Oaklands children, carers and staff, and the SensoryO tour ’s now moved on. As Scottish Opera celebrates it’s 50th birthday this year, here’s hoping that the talented company performs to many more appreciative and enthusiastic audiences over the coming months.

Gala Committee to hold open planning session

Organisers of the West Pilton and Muirhouse community gala are to hold an open day next month. The gala committee is inviting local groups along to a two-hour session on 19 June to meet with local groups and organisations, establish what they require for this summer’s gala at West Pilton Park and an opportunity to sign up for the big day.

West Pilton and Muirhouse Community Gala chairperson Sean Gardiner explained: “The gala committee are holding an open day at Muirhouse St Andrews Parish Church on Tuesday 19 June at 11am, when the church has kindly given us use of the hall for a couple of hours. What we aim to do is gather all local groups and organisations into one room and establish what involvement you as a group would like in the upcoming gala – this could be in the form of a free information table inside one of the marquees, or perhaps an activity; really anything that promotes what you do in the West Pilton and Muirhouse areas.”

He added: “Getting everyone in the one place not only provides the gala committee with great feedback but also gives you the chance to fill out any of the relevant paperwork there and then, getting your place in the new gala confirmed.”

To confirm your attendance at the 19 June meeting, or for further information about the Gala, email wpmcgala@gmail.com

Telford students – building and supporting local community projects

As part of a new course development at Edinburgh’s Telford College, Career Option Joinery and Painting and Decorating students have been carrying out citizenship projects in the local community by carrying out work for charitable organisations. Recent projects have included building and designing bespoke units and cabinets to create a health information library at Pilton Community Health Project and refitting office space, creating storage and building additional worktops to create an area for staff and clients to work together at Stepping Stones Project. The students have also built a fence at North Edinburgh Childcare to create a safe area for the children to play in. The work carried out by students has complemented their course work by providing learners with on the job experience and helping build key essential skills.

Feedback from projects has been extremely positive. Stepping Stones manager Marilyn Keilloh said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Emma, Colin and all the students who have done such great work for us in the last few weeks. Our new desk space and storage facilities will make a very real difference to how we work in the office. They have also been very accommodating, and have come up with some really innovative ideas to solve some of our space problems. As a small project with a very limited budget it has been a great help to us to get this work done. Also, we provide support services to very young parent families and pregnant teenagers so it is good that your students are able to help a project which supports people from their own age group. I would be really grateful if you could pass on my thanks from everyone here at Stepping Stones.”

The students themselves felt they gained new skills and experience by participating in the community projects. Dale Horribine, Career Option Joinery, said: “I think our class worked really well as part of a team in the projects. I would like to do more of these types of projects; it gives us the opportunity to gain new skills and to put our skills into practice in and around the community. It was the perfect work experience.”

Telford’s Head of Construction Sharon McCue-Livingstone fully supports the initiative within the department and now hopes that this can be extended to all areas of Construction within the college. “This is exactly the type of project that enhances what we believe is core to students’ experience, that of real working environment. My hope is to enhance and extend this activity as much as possible into all areas of Construction to provide essential employability skills for our students.”

Edinburgh’s Telford College are keen to become involved in more citizenship projects for charitable organisations in the future. If you think our students could work with your organisation please contact Keith Swann via keith.swann@ed-coll.ac.uk or Sharon McCue-Livingstone (Head) on sharon.mccue-livingstone@ed-coll.ac.uk

 

Letter – Rights and Responsibility

Dear Editor

‘Rights come with Responsibility’ is a favourite call of the Cameron government. A second favourite: ‘strikes are wrong and evil in intent’.

The biggest and longest lasting strike – still going on and having disastrous consequences – is the strike of the very rich and their investment companies in ‘the Market’: they only invest if the profit return is large enough.

Although they are only investing money, ‘rights with responsibility’ obviously does not apply to them, whereas the majority of the population invest the whole of their working lives. The majority of workplace strikes are, in the main, by people exercising their rights and responsibility to their families in resisting efforts by employers to worsen conditions of work and pay – and being made to feel guilty for doing so.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Public praised after 'momentous' Cup Final weekend

Lothian and Borders Police have praised the public for ensuring the Scottish Cup Final between Heart of Midlothian FC and Hibernian FC and the yesterday’s victory parade was a huge success for the city of Edinburgh.

Over 50,000 supporters attended the match at Hampden stadium, while thousands more watched the match at home or within licensed premises. Yesterday, approximately 100,000 people around the city participated in the victory celebrations and watched the Hearts team travel from the City Chambers to Tynecastle Stadium in Gorgie.

Lothian and Borders Police and their partner agencies carried out a major operation on match day and on the day of the parade to ensure public safety was maintained throughout and to facilitate an historic and family-friendly weekend for the capital, and all organisations involved would now like to thank supporters of both clubs and members of the public alike for their responsible behaviour and good spirits over the past two days.

Eight people were arrested in Edinburgh on Saturday for offences including alleged breaches of the peace and assault, but police and partners have hailed the weekend as a major success with no significant incidents having occurred.

Chief Superintendent Gill Imery, Divisional Commander for the City of Edinburgh said: “With Edinburgh’s two professional teams facing each other in a major cup final, worldwide attention focused on Edinburgh, Glasgow and the fans and organisations associated with the match. I am delighted by the manner in which members of the public conducted themselves. Both sets of fans were a credit to themselves and their clubs as they travelled to and from Glasgow and while they watched the match, either within the stadium, at home or in licensed premises.”

She went on: “Detailed planning between all partner agencies was carried out prior to this event to ensure the public were aware of all key issues including transport arrangements, local bylaws and planned activities for both clubs. Significant police resources were in place to assist fans as they made their way to watch the match and to deal with any issues that arose. The feedback from officers across all forces has been extremely positive and the engagement between police and public appears to have been a key factor. “Lothian and Borders Police have a wealth of experience in facilitating large events within Edinburgh and worked closely with both clubs and the City of Edinburgh Council to agree two separate parade routes. Once the result of yesterday’s match was decided, the parade plan for City Chambers to Tynecastle Stadium was implemented to allow fans the chance to safely view their team with the Scottish Cup and enjoy the celebrations put on by the club. We would like to thank our local communities for all their assistance, support and co-operation throughout this momentous weekend.”

Public praised after ‘momentous’ Cup Final weekend

Lothian and Borders Police have praised the public for ensuring the Scottish Cup Final between Heart of Midlothian FC and Hibernian FC and the yesterday’s victory parade was a huge success for the city of Edinburgh.

Over 50,000 supporters attended the match at Hampden stadium, while thousands more watched the match at home or within licensed premises. Yesterday, approximately 100,000 people around the city participated in the victory celebrations and watched the Hearts team travel from the City Chambers to Tynecastle Stadium in Gorgie.

Lothian and Borders Police and their partner agencies carried out a major operation on match day and on the day of the parade to ensure public safety was maintained throughout and to facilitate an historic and family-friendly weekend for the capital, and all organisations involved would now like to thank supporters of both clubs and members of the public alike for their responsible behaviour and good spirits over the past two days.

Eight people were arrested in Edinburgh on Saturday for offences including alleged breaches of the peace and assault, but police and partners have hailed the weekend as a major success with no significant incidents having occurred.

Chief Superintendent Gill Imery, Divisional Commander for the City of Edinburgh said: “With Edinburgh’s two professional teams facing each other in a major cup final, worldwide attention focused on Edinburgh, Glasgow and the fans and organisations associated with the match. I am delighted by the manner in which members of the public conducted themselves. Both sets of fans were a credit to themselves and their clubs as they travelled to and from Glasgow and while they watched the match, either within the stadium, at home or in licensed premises.”

She went on: “Detailed planning between all partner agencies was carried out prior to this event to ensure the public were aware of all key issues including transport arrangements, local bylaws and planned activities for both clubs. Significant police resources were in place to assist fans as they made their way to watch the match and to deal with any issues that arose. The feedback from officers across all forces has been extremely positive and the engagement between police and public appears to have been a key factor. “Lothian and Borders Police have a wealth of experience in facilitating large events within Edinburgh and worked closely with both clubs and the City of Edinburgh Council to agree two separate parade routes. Once the result of yesterday’s match was decided, the parade plan for City Chambers to Tynecastle Stadium was implemented to allow fans the chance to safely view their team with the Scottish Cup and enjoy the celebrations put on by the club. We would like to thank our local communities for all their assistance, support and co-operation throughout this momentous weekend.”

Telford students to showcase skills at Edinburgh Castle

Students from Edinburgh’s Telford College will showcase their work at Edinburgh Castle as part of an event to celebrate traditional construction skills this week.  Telford is taking part in this year’s Scottish Apprentice Week by sending students from its building courses to the Edinburgh Traditional Skills Exhibition.

The exhibition, which takes place over two days, will be launched by Fiona Hislop, Minister for Culture and External Affairs and is a collaborative partnership between Construction Skills, Historic Scotland, The National Federation of Roofing Contractors, The Stone Federation and Edinburgh’s Telford College.

John Laing, Sector Business Senior Manager at Edinburgh’s Telford College said: “We are delighted to have been invited to the Edinburgh Traditional Skills Exhibition to showcase the multitude of talents of our Traditional Building students. This event is ideal for our young roofing, stonemasonry and building apprentices to demonstrate skills as well as impart knowledge on those considering studying the various traditional building courses that are out there. They have also worked hard to put together innovative roofing and stonemasonry models, an ideal way for them to showcase their skills at the exhibition and also a great way of demonstrating the type of things individuals will learn on our traditional building courses.”

Construction Skills Scotland will also be on hand at the two-day exhibition to give out information to those interested in taking up a course or a career in the industry.

Miles Dibsdall OBE, Principal of Edinburgh’s Telford College who will also be attending the event said: “It is important for us to get involved in events like the Edinburgh Traditional Skills exhibition for Scottish Apprenticeship week. Teaching practical skills which will ensure students are ready for the work place is one of the main aims we have at Telford College and the fact that many individuals are able to learn as well as work is the best thing about modern apprenticeships.”

John added: “An event like this is extremely important for the construction sector. It is important to keep educating people of what’s needed for a career in construction as well getting the chance to talk about how important traditional building courses are to the future of some of our most historic buildings. The fact that we still have a significant number of individuals wanting to come and learn these skills is increasingly promising and having exhibitions like the one at Edinburgh Castle are a great way to get everyone in the same place creating a buzz about the sector.”

Local adult learners up for achievement awards

Best wishes to four groups of North Edinburgh adult learners who have been nominated for Adult Learner Achievement Awards at an event at the City Chambers this evening.

The groups – based at Muirhouse Millennium Centre, The Prentice Centre, West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre and Royston Wardieburn – are all supported by the local Community Learning and Development (CLD) team who are keeping their fingers tightly crossed!

Tonight’s City Chambers reception is the culmination of a number of events held to mark the 21st anniversary of Adult Learners Week across the city.

St Serf's Players perform Blithe Spirit

Award-winning local amateur dramatic company St Serf’s Players will be performing Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit in the Church Halls on Clark Road from 24 – 26 May at 7.30pm.

Tickets, from £3, are available from local outlets in Goldenacre, by calling 249 4899 or through the group’s website at www.stserfsplayers.org.uk

St Serf’s Players are members of the Scottish Community Drama Association and recently scooped both first and second prizes in the Edinburgh District’s One Act Play Festival, so you’re assured of an entertaining evening!

 

St Serf’s Players perform Blithe Spirit

Award-winning local amateur dramatic company St Serf’s Players will be performing Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit in the Church Halls on Clark Road from 24 – 26 May at 7.30pm.

Tickets, from £3, are available from local outlets in Goldenacre, by calling 249 4899 or through the group’s website at www.stserfsplayers.org.uk

St Serf’s Players are members of the Scottish Community Drama Association and recently scooped both first and second prizes in the Edinburgh District’s One Act Play Festival, so you’re assured of an entertaining evening!