Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

PIlton walkers step out for better health

Pilton Walking Project has been going for 10 years and has been based at Pilton Community Health Project for the past seven. We felt it was time to celebrate and thank some of our long standing volunteers for their contribution. Les Simpson, Allan Hawke and Fred Downie collectively have volunteered for 21 years!

Les (pictured above, right) started walking in the 1950’s when he did his military service. He completed his mountain leadership in 1975. He loves walking and has inspired his grandsons with his walking zeal, although he says he still has his two great grandsons still to work on! “I have made a lot of friends through the walking project he says, I really enjoy the social side and seeing the change in people as they get used to walking more”. The Pilton Walking Project provides people with a social, fun and safe environment to go out and enjoy the fresh air and exercise.

Allan (above) is a former teacher and school inspector and really enjoys hill walking. He recently climbed all 30 of the Scottish mainland county summits – the highest point in every traditional Scottish county. But he also likes gentler walks and helping others enjoy them too. “Walking is good for physical, mental and social health – a good leg stretch and a good chat make the day. I like introducing folk to new areas of Edinburgh that they might not otherwise get to know from the Cammo Estate to the wonderful Water of Leith”.Fred (above, driving the bus!) started with the walking group when he retired. He said “We only had 5-people on the first walk; that included my wife, the organiser and two others! After a few months more people came along and the walks became a bit of a social occasion. Some of the group went for a wee cuppa after the walk and we really got to know each other. The walks filled up and although a few people came and went, we always had a group whatever the weather!”

“I kept on volunteering because it was clear folk were enjoying themselves, in some cases the walk was the only trip outside they made that week. Ten years has just flown past that just goes to show how much we all enjoyed it”.

A New and Exciting Programme of Walks

PCHP runs local walks on a Monday from the project based at 73 Boswall Parkway. Walkers leave with Christine and Liz at 1.30pm, catch a bus and take a walk in and around Edinburgh, perhaps to the Meadows, Holyrood Park or Forth Quarter Park in Granton. Once a month walks will include a visit to a local place of interest, such as Drylaw House or Blackhall Mosque.

PCHP will be partnering up with Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre for the next few weeks on Fridays at 9am a minibus will leave from the Neighbourhood Centre and take you further afield for example to the Pentland Hills or over to Fife. The trips last around 2-3 hours, back in time for lunch!

If you are interested in coming along to any walk call Clare Symonds on 0131 551 1671.

We also welcome new walk leaders to join our group of volunteers. We offer walk leader and other training and welcome anyone who is interested in encouraging local people to get out and about a little more. If you have good personal and social skills and enjoy walking you are the right person to volunteer for us!

Clare Symonds

Trying times for Telford rugby students!

Former Scottish rugby star Gregor Townsend joined young sporting talent from Edinburgh’s Telford College to pass on invaluable advice and experience relating to the sport yesterday. Gregor who won 82 Scottish caps, conducted a coaching session at Telford as part of the inaugural Edinburgh Colleges’ Festival.

Putting the newly developed Marine Drive rugby pitches to good use, Gregor worked with the college’s rugby performance students for around an hour. This was followed by a short Q&A session that gave the students a chance to get helpful tips and advice from the sporting star.

Robert Chrystie, Rugby Performance Course Leader at Edinburgh’s Telford College said: “The new and improved rugby pitches allow our students to achieve better results through having good quality training facilities. Our rugby performance course is one of very few in Scotland. It is therefore of the utmost importance that we provide our students with the resources they require in order to improve their rugby skills.

“The event with Gregor was of real use to the learners, some of whom are considering a professional career in the sport. Being able to have access to someone who has experienced the sport and its highs and lows is a great experience for them and we hope to build upon this with similar sessions in the future.”

Edinburgh’s Telford College runs a dedicated Rugby Performance course, which aims to cover all aspects of the sporting profession, helping attract more young people into the sport and provide a springboard into some of the country’s top teams.

Gregor Townsend said: “I really enjoyed working the boys on their skills. I was keen to pass on my experience in professional rugby and I definitely made sure they all worked extremely hard in the session. The rugby performance course at Telford College is important as it helps individuals to reach their full potential within a physically demanding sport. I’m proud to be able to work with colleges to help develop the future talent of Scottish rugby.”

The event was part of the Edinburgh Colleges’ Festival, which runs from 7 May to 30 June and celebrates the work and talent of students from Edinburgh’s Telford College, Stevenson College and Jewel and Esk College ahead of the October 2012 merger.  The event is one of the largest student-led Further Education events in the UK.

Edinburgh’s Telford College, provides a wide range of career related programmes to help learners progress into work or University education. Currently the college has around 17,000 students and 600 members of staff. More information about Telford can be found at www.ed-coll.ac.uk

Cup Final Information

 

With THE BIG DAY fast approaching, Lothian and Borders Assistant Chief Constable Bill Skelly has issued the following message:

On Saturday 19 May, Heart of Midlothian FC and Hibernian FC will compete for the Scottish Cup at Hampden Park, Glasgow.  This is the first time since 1896 that two Edinburgh teams have made it to the final and the day should be one of great pride for the capital city.

The Scottish Cup Final weekend will present some unique challenges for communities in and around Edinburgh and for Lothian and Borders Police.

Large numbers of fans will travel to the national stadium in Glasgow for the game resulting in an influx in the numbers utilising the transport infrastructure, including the road and rail networks.

It is important that those using these networks over the weekend leave plenty time for their journey and are prepared for possible delays Our partners at City of Edinburgh Council and First Scotrail have already released details of the provisions and plans in place for facilitating travel to the West and back.

I would strongly advise supporters to consult all the partner agency websites for updates relating to transport issues, policing messages and guidance from the respective football clubs.

With such a busy weekend of sport due to be televised, Lothian and Borders Police fully anticipate the various licensed premises across Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Scottish Borders to experience an increase in business. Many of those attending the Cup Final may also wish to drink before heading to the match, which they are free to do so either at home or at a pub or restaurant.

However, it is important that people adopt a responsible attitude and ensure their behaviour does not place them or others at risk of harm. It is a momentous occasion for the city and we want everyone to enjoy the festival of sport.

Lothian and Borders Police, Strathclyde Police and British Transport Police have worked closely with one another and with both Hearts and Hibs to prevent alcohol from ruining a special day for the capital.

Fans travelling by rail and coach have already been made aware that drinking onboard is prohibited and officers from each force will carry out various policing activities to remove alcohol from anyone found in possession.

Last weekend, police in Edinburgh’s city-centre carried out unannounced inspections at a number of pubs and clubs to ensure the terms of their licenses were being adhered to. Staff at these venues were offered crime prevention advice ahead of the cup final weekend and are urged to report any criminal behaviour immediately. Officers will provide a visible presence within these establishments across the weekend to offer reassurance and deal with any issues, which may arise.

Sectarian behaviour within Scottish football is very topical at the moment and active steps are being taken by all police Forces and football clubs and governing bodies to address this issue. It is important that everyone can attend football matches and related events without fear of prejudice or discrimination.  The Scottish Cup final should be a time for celebration and the public are reminded that police in Scotland will use relevant legislation in response to those acting in an unacceptable manner.

Regardless of the result, Sunday 20 May will be a day of celebration within the city and detailed planning has been ongoing between Lothian and Borders Police, City of Edinburgh Council and the football clubs in respect of a victory parade for the winning side.

The event will be a time for friends and family to come together and savour the success of their team and our communities can rest assured that public safety is paramount during all planning discussions.

The parade routes for the victorious team can already be found on the Lothian and Borders Police blog as well as on the respective club websites and fans are urged to consult these sites to determine their best position for seeing the trophy.

Communication between the partner agencies and the public has been at the forefront of this operation and all organisations are keen to utilise their various platforms for reaching our communities.

As well as operational updates on the police website – http://www.lbp.police.uk  live matchday tweets with all relevant information can be received by following @LBP_Police and using the hashtag #LBPCup.

On behalf of Lothian and Borders Police I would like to wish both sides the best of luck for Saturday and I sincerely hope that supporters and neutrals alike experience a safe and well-tempered cup final weekend.

ACC Bill Skelly

 

Community Renewal – ready and able to help

With the closure of the popular Community Employability Office on Ferry Road Drive, it is good to know that there is still a locally based support service ready and able to help residents of North Edinburgh find and make the most of available job, training, education or volunteering opportunities and to assist with a range of health and welfare issues (writes Ann Confrey). 

Since 2003 Community Renewal, a not for profit organisation, has been working to transform communities by engaging and supporting people to get involved in community activity and to improve health, learning and employment.

In 2008 Community Renewal extended it’s reach to include Edinburgh, opening offices to embark on area focused projects initially in Muirhouse and latterly Craigmillar.

Community Renewal staff work with unemployed people including those who may have significant barriers to accessing opportunities, with their overall aim to break through these barriers to reduce unemployment and health inequalities.

Through an open ended listening process people are supported to identify where they would like to make a change in their own lives and in their community and encouraged to take positive steps towards this.

James Riordan, Team Leader at the Muirhouse project explains how the team work: “At each Community Renewal Centre the door is always open and people can drop in for a chat and cup of tea. The biggest barrier people face to improving their lives can be lack of confidence so it is important to create an environment that is friendly and safe.

“We take a people first approach to help deal with a range of issues and, most importantly, to gain the trust of the people we come into contact with. Once we have gained the trust of an individual we learn about the real or perceived barriers that they need support to overcome. We build on the initial trust step by step until we are able to discuss and develop a personal plan that focuses on improving the individuals’ personal health and economic activity.

“We also look to tackle some of the environmental and social problems that contribute to stress, ill-health and low morale in the neighbourhood. This is part of Community Renewal’s holistic approach to breaking the cycle of decline”.

The UK and Scottish Governments have produced numerous programmes and spent many billions of pounds aimed at local regeneration, encouraging people into work and improving health. There is recognition that to be sustainable, neighbourhood regeneration cannot just be about bricks and mortar but must address employment and social issues in tandem. Otherwise the cycle of decline is not broken.

Despite this, figures collated in 2010 show that Scotland has more people in receipt of out-of-work-benefits than the average for Great Britain and that two-fifths of all working-age claimants of out-of-work disability benefits are under the age of 45.

In Scotland alone there are around 20,000 young people aged 16-19 not in work, education or training. In some housing estates and inner city areas only 1 in every 2 adults is economically active.

Figures from ONS population survey Oct 2010 – Sept 2011 show that in the Edinburgh North and Leith Parliamentary Constituency alone there are 12,800 economically inactive people. 9,460 are of working age and claiming benefits of some kind and of these 4,700 people over the age of 16 are registered unemployed.

Yet the same source (2008 figures) cites that there were 96,200 jobs on offer in the area. 66,000 of these were full time positions offering an attractive average pay of  £512.00 per week.

http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/wpca/1929380436/report.aspx#tabwab

What is clear is that many residents of North Edinburgh and Leith are not easily accessing suitable jobs when they become available.

This is where Community Renewal can make a difference. They understand that people who are unemployed and particularly those who may find themselves long term economically inactive or who have a range of health or family difficulties do not always find it easy to motivate themselves to make positive changes in their lives.

The team take steps to understand what is really holding people back and what their real motivators for personal change are before encouraging and supporting them to take positive steps forward.

‘Partnership’ is today’s buzz-word in service delivery. But Community Renewal believes that the real challenge is in making this work at the grass roots level.

“All too often people find themselves referred from one agency to another completing endless forms and providing the same information over and over again until they end up confused, demoralised and eventually become lost in the system.

“Community Renewal aims to widen the range of services working effectively together for the benefit of the individual and the community as a whole. From housing departments, schools and colleges to NHS initiatives – we try to provide a simple and seamless process with one point of contact.

“We take the time to learn about the needs of the person and support them through the various services that can help – even bringing the service to them if necessary” adds James.

Next time you are in the area, don’t pass by, call in for a cup of tea and a friendly chat – it could mark the start of a whole new you!!

Success

The results speak for themselves, with over 3000 people involved with the projects finding jobs, over 1000 moving into training, education or volunteering and around another 1000 others taking active measures to improve their health and wellbeing.

Contact Community Renewal:

From pilot schemes supported by Glasgow City Council and European funding Community Renewal now has 50 staff plus a host of volunteers making a difference in communities across Scotland.

See how your local team can help you make a difference at:

Edinburgh – Muirhouse

(North Hub), Unit 13, 11 Pennywell Court

Muirhouse Shopping Centre, Edinburgh EH4 4TZ

Telephone 0131 332 8773

muirhouse@communityrenewal.org.uk

http://www.communityrenewal.org.uk

 

Ann Confrey 

 

New era for Edinburgh as Labour and SNP join forces

Labour and the SNP have vowed to work together to take Edinburgh forward following the local council elections on 3 May. The two parties finished first and second in the city council elections and, with a strong mandate from the electorate, they’ve jointly signed up to a ‘Contract with the Capital’.

No one political party could win an overall majority following the 3 May vote and negotiations with other parties were always going to be necessary to form a new administration. The election result – Labour 20, SNP 18, Conservative 11, Green 6 and Lib-Dems just 3 – left Labour, as the largest group, a number of options.

The resulting coalition with the SNP was a surprise for many; apart from the obvious party political differences at a national level – unionism or independence – there are some potentially fiery personality clashes too; some senior Labour figures have never forgiven former ‘comrade’ Steve Cardownie for defecting to the SNP back in 2006.

However it seems that there are now more issues that unite rather than divide the two groups, and group leaders Andrew Burns and Steve Cardownie have agreed to work together for the good of the city through a ‘contract with the capital’ which will ‘build a more co-operative and prosperous Edinburgh that benefits every individual and community’.

The agreement includes more than 50 pledges that the administration will be judged on, with a review going to Council each year detailing what progress has been made on meeting those aims.

Labour group leader Councillor Andrew Burns said: “Edinburgh is internationally recognised as a fantastic city. It is successful, prosperous and a great place to live and work. Yet our city has major challenges and we need to acknowledge that we have some work to do to rebuild trust between the residents of Edinburgh and their elected representatives. Tackling these requires strong leadership, which we will provide, as well as the political stability created by having a 38-strong coalition between the Council’s two largest parties.”

Councillor Steve Cardownie, leader of the SNP group, added: “This new contract with the capital marks a fresh start with a Council willing to listen to local people and work together with local communities, businesses and the voluntary sector. Together, we will move Edinburgh forward for the benefit of the city and its people, with decision-making that shows we are listening to public opinion.”

The agreement sets out six key priorities:

  • ensuring every child in Edinburgh has the      best start in life
  • reducing poverty, inequality and deprivation
  • providing for Edinburgh ‘s prosperity
  • strengthening and supporting our communities      and keeping them safe
  • ensuring Edinburgh, and its residents, are well cared-for; and
  • maintaining and improving the quality of life in Edinburgh.

Council Chief Executive Sue Bruce said: “The agreement lays out the goals that officers will be charged with delivering on behalf of the whole Council. It is a challenging set of objectives, as it rightly should be for a capital city. I’m very much looking forward to working with councillors, the senior management team, partner organisations and all of our committed staff on achieving them.”

The new administration has one distinct advantage over the outgoing one – experience. When the last administration came to power only Cllr Cardownie has any experience of running departments – while there were many Lib Dems councillors with years of experience, none had experience of power or responsibility, and there was a whole raft of councillors with no experience of local government at all. Almost from day one, the administration found itself on the back foot with a botched school closures programme and throughout it’s time in power it was beset with problems – in particular the tram fiasco, undoubtedly the biggest factor in the Lib-Dems dramatic demise on 3 May.

The new administration contains a good mix of politicians with strong experience of running departments, councillors with some experience under their belts and a fresh new intake – hopefully with fresh new ideas. There’s no doubt they’ll all have learned from the mistakes of the last administration – and that’s got to be good for Edinburgh.

Senior civic and committee positions will formally agreed at the first meeting of the new Council on Thursday (17 May).

Spartans Breastfeeding Cafe is open

Local mum Becky Smith cut a cake to officially open the new Spartans Breastfeeding Café earlier today.  Becky and her two-year old son James were joined by Spartans’ development manager Dougie Samuel and a happy team of NHS Lothian professionals to mark the occasion.

The Spartans breast-feeding café is a friendly, informal setting where mums who are breastfeeding – or pregnant women – can drop in for a chat about breastfeeding with local health visitors and midwives.  And as well as being a great place for advice, support, encouragement and information, it’s also a great place to meet other mums who are breastfeeding – and tea and coffee is free!

Any breastfeeding, even for a short time, is beneficial for you and your baby. Having good information about breastfeeding, plus support and advice, will help you – and your baby – get off to a good start and will help you to keep going.  

Welcoming the new café, NHS Lothian’s Katy Ruggeri, clinical manager for Midwifery Services, said: “It seems such a long time ago that we first talked about the need for a local breastfeeding support group, how we could set one up and how to move things on. I’m delighted that, with the tremendous support of Spartans, we have been able to secure this venue. It’s really great to see the community working hand in hand with NHS Lothian and it’s a credit to everyone who has been involved. I hope the project grows and grows and I’m really looking forward to coming back to see how the project is developing.”

 Spartans’ Dougie Samuel said: “Since we’ve been established here we’ve always tried to ensure that Spartans would be at the heart of the community so we are delighted to welcome the breastfeeding café to Spartans. This initiative follows on from the Spartans Smilers project we undertook with Cathy (Wood, North West Local Health Partnership public health practitioner) and her NHS Lothian colleagues and we hope it will be just as successful.”

Mum Becky Smith added: “I think this is a great idea and the area definitely needs something like this. It’s good to have this advice available locally without having to go to a clinic or surgery and it will be a good place to meet other local mums as well.”

Spartans Breastfeeding Café takes place every Monday from 12.15 to 1.45pm at Spartans Community Football Academy off Pilton Drive. For further information, contact your local midwife or health visitor or just drop in to Spartans Breastfeeding Café.

Sun comes out for Victoria's fun day

 

Scotland rugby legend Gavin Hastings joined in the fun and games when he formally opened  Royal Victoria Hospital’s Open Day yesterday – and after days of miserable weather the sun was a very welcome visitor too!

The Open Day was a final opportunity to have a look round the old hospital on Craigleith Road – services are transferred to a new state-of-the-art Royal Victoria Building at the nearby Western General Hospital next month.

There was a fascinating photo and exhibits display inside the hospital while out in the grounds there was a magician, disco, football, stalls, bouncy castle, face painting and even some birds of prey.

If you missed yesterday’s event, don’t despair – there will be another one at the new Royal Victoria Building at the Western in a fortnight’s time! It’s a chance to see the magnificent new facilities there – can’t promise any sunshine, though!

Sun comes out for Victoria’s fun day

 

Scotland rugby legend Gavin Hastings joined in the fun and games when he formally opened  Royal Victoria Hospital’s Open Day yesterday – and after days of miserable weather the sun was a very welcome visitor too!

The Open Day was a final opportunity to have a look round the old hospital on Craigleith Road – services are transferred to a new state-of-the-art Royal Victoria Building at the nearby Western General Hospital next month.

There was a fascinating photo and exhibits display inside the hospital while out in the grounds there was a magician, disco, football, stalls, bouncy castle, face painting and even some birds of prey.

If you missed yesterday’s event, don’t despair – there will be another one at the new Royal Victoria Building at the Western in a fortnight’s time! It’s a chance to see the magnificent new facilities there – can’t promise any sunshine, though!