Families, cyclists and craft enthusiasts braved the chilly weather and had a lovely time with The Bike Station and ELGT at Sunday’s Innertube Christmas Fun Day. We heard wonderful stories from Macastory and adults and children had a great time scavenging for natural woodland materials such as holly and ivy, to make festive wreaths to hang on the door. These are some of the best examples!
Katriona Harding
Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust
Granton and District Community Council meets this Wednesday (14 December) from 7 – 9pm at Spartans Community Football Academy. For further information please telephone 07923 548159.
Not posted your Christmas cards yet? It’s not too late – last posting dates for Christmas deliveries are:
Second Class – Saturday 17 December
First Class – Tuesday 20 December.
Better get your skates on!
This afternoon’s gymnastics festival at Broughton High School was a tremendous success, with children from across the city performing to a full house. Among those taking part were Broughton’s City of Edinburgh Display Team, Castlebrae, Stockbridge, Broughton High, Corstorphine, Forrester High, Flora Stevenson, Ferryhill, Pentland schools and the City of Edinburgh Gym Club Display Team staged a fantastic finale.
Young gymnasts from across the city will come together to showcase their skills at an exciting event at Broughton High School today.
Jude Salmon, Active Schools Coordinator for the Broughton cluster, said: “The first Inter City Gymnastics Festival will take place at Broughton High School this afternoon (Friday 9th December) from 2 – 4pm. This Festival is a non competitive display event, where all Edinburgh schools who take part in extra curricular gymnastics programmes will come together to perform routines to showcase their skills.
“ActiveSchools have been working in partnership with Activcity, City of Edinburgh Gymnastics Club and Edinburgh Leisure to introduce this all inclusive event to provide a platform to encourage long term participation in gymnastics and physical activity. The event will bring together children of all levels and abilities to perform a short routine to their friends, families and peers.”
Jude Salmon
Active SchoolsCo-ordinator
Broughton Cluster
Mobile:07884235111
Email: jude.salmon@ea.edin.sch.uk
A community garden in West Pilton growing fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs for everyone to enjoy. Come along and get involved helping build and plan the wee garden. Do you like gardening or want to learn? Residents in West Pilton Brae looking out onto the grassland will be the first people involved deciding what the garden could look like and what to grow.
I went door to door last year asking some of the residents views on having a community garden area growing fruit and veg, and what the grassland behind the ‘greenhouse’ is currently used for.
Some of the older residents remembered allotments in the area that were demolished during redevelopment, and most folk I spoke to like the idea and could see the benefits of food on their doorstep but were a bit worried about vandalism.
Dog walkers use the open space so just a bit of the grassland would be used for a garden. None of the woodland surrounding would be touched as the local kids play in it and it is a beautiful landscape feature.
The garden could provide an opportunity for young and old to get together in a healthy fun environment, learning where food comes from seed to plate. The local schools could visit and work there as could local equalities groups. Seasonal gluts in crops could be used for cooking classes and sharing of recipes. And people living in flats without a garden could share the growing space – those with gardens could swap plants and gardening advice.
Tenants and Residents in Pilton meets monthly in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, giving anyone living locally a chance to voice their opinion and be involved with the community garden. We have obtained permission from the council to use part of the grassland for a community garden. A bit of money is available to buy ten fruit trees to start the garden and soft fruits like raspberries and strawberries would grow well.
I will be going around the doors again to ask folk what they think and give anyone interested more information – contact details are below.
I like the gardening quote: “Gardening requires a lot of water, most of it in the form of perspiration“!
Please get involved and help fight food poverty – we could transform the grassland into a sheltered oasis.
Kirsty Sutherland
http://piltonresidents.org.uk/
07504 849 855
See below for details of a mini taster course being ran by North Edinburgh Childcare next month:
Community Liaison, Jennifer Kelly, gives a review of the Community Team over the last six months.
For the second consecutive year our annual Graduation celebration was held in the Hub at the heart of Edinburgh’s Telford College. A wonderful evening was had by staff, students and invited guests, including key members of the North Edinburgh community. Graduands were piped in and entertained by singing, dancing and speakers including the College Principal – Miles Dibsdall OBE, and guest of honour, comedienne and television presenter Jenny Éclair (pictured above).
Looking at the very much wintry weather today, it is hard to believe that it was only three months ago we welcomed 4,000 local residents onto the Forthquarter Park for the third North Edinburgh Community Festival. The day was a great success, and Telford staff and students worked alongside several of its community partners to provide a free day of food, fun, information and entertainment for what is now a popular established event.
The Forth Neighbourhood Partnerships Public Meeting was given an employability twist in October and the College hosted a market place of local and city wide organisations offering help in job hunting, career development and education. Attendees also heard a number of very informative presentations including an update from Ken Shaw, Head of Employability and Skills: City of Edinburgh Council on current initiatives and achievements to date in this area.
The College is keen to support local organisations in any way it is able, and the past few months have seen Telford working alongside SACRO, Fairbridge, Citadel Youth Centre, Four Square, Apex Scotland, CORE, Link Living and WEACT, amongst others. Joint working can take many forms, including presentations, College visits and tours, providing information stands and staff, attending AGMs. This year we designed and produced annual reports for both Stepping Stones (North Edinburgh) and the Prentice Centre. We also welcomed parents and pupils from Craigroyston Community High School, Forthview Primary School and Trinity Academy.
Although events are a significant part of our Community remit, we also provide ongoing support and information to any person who is interested in coming to Telford College. We have regular drop ins at Community Renewal and represent the College at a wide variety of schools and careers events across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Get On Edinburgh, which links people up with the support they need to move forward in life, also has a presence within Learner Services and members of the public are welcome to visit between 1 and 3pm on Wednesdays.
We are proud that our students also make their mark in our community. HND student Michael Kerr, whose project to produce signage for the Forthquarter development was selected as the winning submission by National Grid. Michael produced a fully integrated campaign which included logo development, direct mail, signage points, ambient advertising and digital designs for web and mobile (pictured below).
If any member of the Community would like to arrange a College visit, we can be contacted via the following link on our website:
http://www.ed-coll.ac.uk/community/community_support.aspx
POSTSCRIPT
As you will have heard in the local and national press, Edinburgh’s Telford College has taken the decision to enter merger discussions with Jewel and Esk College and Stevenson College Edinburgh. The Government’s white paper on post-16 vocational education makes clear its aim to refocus college provision so that it is more aligned with employer and community needs, jobs and growth. Telford has for several years collaborated successfully with its sister colleges across the City and the announcement will bring further positive developments and benefits especially for young people across Edinburgh. The College is in a strong position thanks to the quality and commitment of its staff, the engagement with its students, its curricular offer and the quality of the college estate. With our partner colleges we will continue to build a focused college sector in Edinburgh. Barbara Lawson, Head of External Liaison for the College, confirmed that Telford would keep members of its North Edinburgh Community up to date on outcomes from these developments.
Community Liaison, Jennifer Kelly, gives a review of the Community Team over the last six months.
For the second consecutive year our annual Graduation celebration was held in the Hub at the heart of Edinburgh’s Telford College. A wonderful evening was had by staff, students and invited guests, including key members of the North Edinburgh community. Graduands were piped in and entertained by singing, dancing and speakers including the College Principal – Miles Dibsdall OBE, and guest of honour, comedienne and television presenter Jenny Éclair (pictured above).
Looking at the very much wintry weather today, it is hard to believe that it was only three months ago we welcomed 4,000 local residents onto the Forthquarter Park for the third North Edinburgh Community Festival. The day was a great success, and Telford staff and students worked alongside several of its community partners to provide a free day of food, fun, information and entertainment for what is now a popular established event.
The Forth Neighbourhood Partnerships Public Meeting was given an employability twist in October and the College hosted a market place of local and city wide organisations offering help in job hunting, career development and education. Attendees also heard a number of very informative presentations including an update from Ken Shaw, Head of Employability and Skills: City of Edinburgh Council on current initiatives and achievements to date in this area.
The College is keen to support local organisations in any way it is able, and the past few months have seen Telford working alongside SACRO, Fairbridge, Citadel Youth Centre, Four Square, Apex Scotland, CORE, Link Living and WEACT, amongst others. Joint working can take many forms, including presentations, College visits and tours, providing information stands and staff, attending AGMs. This year we designed and produced annual reports for both Stepping Stones (North Edinburgh) and the Prentice Centre. We also welcomed parents and pupils from Craigroyston Community High School, Forthview Primary School and Trinity Academy.
Although events are a significant part of our Community remit, we also provide ongoing support and information to any person who is interested in coming to Telford College. We have regular drop ins at Community Renewal and represent the College at a wide variety of schools and careers events across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Get On Edinburgh, which links people up with the support they need to move forward in life, also has a presence within Learner Services and members of the public are welcome to visit between 1 and 3pm on Wednesdays.
We are proud that our students also make their mark in our community. HND student Michael Kerr, whose project to produce signage for the Forthquarter development was selected as the winning submission by National Grid. Michael produced a fully integrated campaign which included logo development, direct mail, signage points, ambient advertising and digital designs for web and mobile (pictured below).
If any member of the Community would like to arrange a College visit, we can be contacted via the following link on our website:
http://www.ed-coll.ac.uk/community/community_support.aspx
POSTSCRIPT
As you will have heard in the local and national press, Edinburgh’s Telford College has taken the decision to enter merger discussions with Jewel and Esk College and Stevenson College Edinburgh. The Government’s white paper on post-16 vocational education makes clear its aim to refocus college provision so that it is more aligned with employer and community needs, jobs and growth. Telford has for several years collaborated successfully with its sister colleges across the City and the announcement will bring further positive developments and benefits especially for young people across Edinburgh. The College is in a strong position thanks to the quality and commitment of its staff, the engagement with its students, its curricular offer and the quality of the college estate. With our partner colleges we will continue to build a focused college sector in Edinburgh. Barbara Lawson, Head of External Liaison for the College, confirmed that Telford would keep members of its North Edinburgh Community up to date on outcomes from these developments.
“We can do it better together!”
We are delighted to announce the launch of Living Well North Edinburgh, which is the result of a merger between the Pilton based PROP Stress Centre and the Clermiston based Threshold Mental Health Project. Both organisations are user-led mental health organisations with shared values and aims. Most importantly, the belief that:
The people who use our services are seen as themselves rather than the state of their mental health.
The new organisation is called Living Well North Edinburgh.
Consultation with our members shows that we’re on the right track as they say:
Councillor Paul Edie, Health Leader, City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I am delighted that both organisations are coming together to provide the people of North Edinburgh with even greater support, whilst protecting existing services already in place. This is a great example of a local neighbourhood service that is working to help people feel valued and included, giving them back some control over their lives. It is increasingly important to work within communities to help people manage and maintain a positive and healthy wellbeing.”
Living Well was officially launched last month by Linda Irvine, Strategic Programme Manager, Mental Health and Wellbeing, NHS Lothian, and Ian Waitt, Manager, North Mental Health Services, the City of Edinburgh Council. Linda says “We’ve worked closely with both these projects over a number of years and I have no doubt our positive work together will continue. The work carried out by community-based organisations is invaluable in helping to build mentally healthy communities across Lothian.”
Living Well North Edinburgh, (LWNE), is a user-led community mental health service open to people aged 18 and over, who have mental health concerns and live in North Edinburgh.
At Living Well, we specialise in providing group support activities designed to build confidence, unlock people’s creativity, help people learn new ways of dealing with stress and combat the stigma of mental health difficulties. Services are open to people with mental health concerns who live inNorth Edinburgh, an area affected by social exclusion, high unemployment, low educational attainment and poor health and wellbeing. 140+ people benefit from our services each year. This has recognised benefits for their family, friends and their local community.
The merger will protect both existing services and provide members with access to a wider range of activities in Pilton and in Clermiston.
When we asked our members what they valued about both organisations they said:
“A lifesaver for me” – “and for me too” and “me too” “and me too…..”
All the members especially value mutual help, sharing experiences and supporting each other in solving problems.
Our new name was chosen for us byShulah Allan, MBE, former Director of EVOC and of Edinburgh Association for Mental Health, from suggestions made by our members.
Services will continue to be provided in our Pilton Centre, 4 days a week and in the local community centre 2 afternoons a week in Clermiston.
Living Well North Edinburgh is funded by the City ofEdinburgh Council, NHS Lothian, the Miss Agnes H Hunter’s Trust, the Lloyds TSB Foundation forScotland, the Nancie Massey Charitable Trust and the Scotmid Foundation.
For more information contact:
Penny Richardson, Manager, Living Well North Edinburgh
Monday – Thursday – 9 am to 4pm 0131 343 6375
Direct email pennyrichardson@livingwellnorthedinburgh.org.uk
Living Well North Edinburgh, 5 West Pilton Park, Edinburgh EH4 4EL 0131 343 6375
