Yes, the North Edinburgh Community Festival has been cancelled, but September doesn’t have to be festival-free – here’s a timely reminder that Broughton High School will be staging their very own Septemberfest later this month! The big event takes place on Saturday 22 September.
Author: davepickering
Edinburgh reporter and photographer
Muirhouse Housing Association celebrates twenty years in North Edinburgh
Muirhouse Housing Association marked an important milestone when they celebrated their twentieth birthday in style at Muirhouse Millennium Centre on Saturday. With loads of fun things to do for the kids and presentations to longest tenants and management committee members, the day was a great success.
Happy birthday MHA – here’s to the next twenty years! 
MHA Chair Roy Douglas with Management Board members
Chair Roy Douglas with oldest tenant – who’s 88! 
Brenda Tonner with her MHA staff team 
Happy birthday MHA!
Fire safety advice for freshers
As a new academic term starts Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service is urging students to put fire safety at the top of their agenda for the years ahead:
Part of becoming a student is enjoying the freedom of being away from home and living with new friends. This can be a very enjoyable experience but it can also be daunting.
Living in halls of residence or rented accommodation means that you are responsible for looking after your own health and safety. Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service work with universities and colleges to ensure that halls of residence are safe places to live, through the provision of free home fire safety advice for residents and ensuring that fire-warning systems are installed and maintained correctly.
As a resident within halls of residence, you have an obligation to ensure that the fire warning system and firefighting equipment are only used in an emergency. Unwanted false alarms caused by deliberate or malicious actuation of fire warning systems is a criminal act, which may result in prosecution, but more importantly, may lead to a delay in fire appliances responding to a genuine emergency elsewhere. Your university or college may also consider appropriate disciplinary action against students involved in such activities.
Whilst partying, smoking and drinking are all part of a student lifestyle, it is important to remember that this could put you at a higher risk of fire.
Make sure you know what to do if fire breaks out. Our advice is to get out, stay out and call 999 asking for ‘Fire’. Never attempt to tackle a fire yourself. If you are trapped by fire, get to a window if possible and dial 999. Fire Control will give you fire survival advice until firefighters can reach you.
Cooking and cigarettes are two of the most common causes of fire. In student accommodation, we are also often called to fires started by candles and tea lights. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Don’t cook or smoke under the influence of alcohol and never leave candles unattended. If you have been drinking heavily you may be slower to respond in an emergency.
Tips on keeping your accommodation safe
- Never leave cooking unattended
- Never leave candles unattended
- Keep candles away from flammable surfaces or textiles
- Don’t cook or smoke indoors when you’ve been drinking alcohol
- Don’t overload plug sockets
- If a fire starts get out, stay out and dial 999
- Practice an escape route with your housemates
- Check furniture has the permanent fire resistant label
- Take extra care with cigarettes and smoking materials. Don’t smoke in bed.
- Extinguish cigarettes properly before you go to sleep
- Switch off electrical appliances, like mobile chargers and hair straighteners, when not in use
- Secure portable heaters up against a wall, so they don’t fall over. Keep them away from curtains, furnishings, never dry clothes on them.
- Know your escape route in an emergency. Make sure you and your housemates know the quickest way out in the event of fire and consider an alternative route in case your usual one is blocked.
- In all properties, the landlord must ensure gas appliances are installed and maintained annually by a registered plumber.
- Know your rights. Landlords are responsible for supplying safe gas appliances and electrical wiring
Free home fire safety advice is available here: http://www.lbfire.org.uk/fire_safety/safety_home.htm and a free home safety visit can be arranged by calling 0800 169 0320 or by emailing community.safety@lbfire.org.uk
Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service
Film screening to support WaterAid charity
A recently-established Edinburgh group is to hold a special one-off screening of ‘Even the Rain’ (Tambien la Iluvia) to raise money for the international development charity WaterAid – and the film’s award-winning screenwriter Paul Laverty will host a question and answer session following the screening.
The screening will take place on Thursday 27 September at 7.30pm at SYHA Edinburgh Central, on Haddington Place, Leith Walk, and is the group’s first fundraising event for WaterAid, the charity which enables some of the world’s poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Even the Rain is a 2010 Spanish drama about Mexican director Sebastián (Gael García Bernal) and executive producer Costa (Luis Tosar) who travel to Bolivia to shoot a film depicting Christopher Columbus’s conquest. Sebastián and Costa unexpectedly land themselves in a moral crisis when they and their crew arrive at Cochabamba, Bolivia, during the intensifying 2000 Cochabamba protests, which their key native actor Daniel (Juan Carlos Aduviri) persistently leads. The film was directed by Icíar Bollaín, based on a screenplay by Paul Laverty.
The film’s central theme of the fundamental right to access safe and clean water, is also one of the principal aims of WaterAid. Angela Lafferty, a member of WaterAid’s Edinburgh local group and one of the event organisers, said: “For me, this event is not only about raising money but about reminding us all that we need water to live. We all use so much of it in our daily lives but many of us never think about where it comes from, who controls and manages it and how much it costs. One in eight of the world’s population are not as lucky as we are in Scotland, but we can change that!”
In the developing world, diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor sanitation and unclean water kill 4000 children every day – more than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. Just £15 can enable one person to access a lasting supply safe water, sanitation and hygiene. Funds raised at this special screening will enable WaterAid to transform the lives of some of the world’s poorest people throughout Africa, Asia and the Pacific Region. Tickets are £10 (including a glass of wine) and should be booked online at: www.eventelephant.com/eventherain
Forthquarter Festival cancelled
The North Edinburgh Community Festival has been cancelled. The event was due to take place on 29 September, but organisers say that the annual event must be cancelled due to ‘unforeseen and insurmountable circumstances’. The decision comes just a week after a succesful community gala was held at West Pilton Park.
National Grid hosted the first new community festival at Forthquarter Park in 2008, attempting to join the established North Edinburgh and new Waterfront communities together by recapturing the community spirit of former gala days. The festival was popular and well-attended, particularly in the early years, but organisers have now made the tough decision to cancel the 2012 event. A meeting will be held later this year to determine the future of the Forthquarter Park event.
In an email yesterday, Granton Parish Church Minister Norman Smith, who chairs the North Edinburgh Festival Committee, explained: “I am sorry to have to inform you that due to a combination of unforeseen and insurmountable circumstances, the North Edinburgh Festival Committee is left with no choice but to cancel the community gala planned for Saturday 29 September. We realise that, given the success of previous years’ festivals, this will be a big disappointment to everyone who has attended in the past. We wish to thank each and every one of you for all you have done to ensure the event went ahead, however the combination of uncertainties has mean we have little option at this time but to cancel. While any one issue would not have given the need to cancel the event – the combination of issues outwith the committee’s control or influence has left us in an insecure position. We will be convening a meeting later this year, around November, to discuss next year’s event and how we can avoid this situation reoccurring. Thank you for your support.”
Watch the birdies! SELEX golfers raise £5000 for Woodlands
SELEX Galileo Edinburgh Charity Golf Committee Raises over £5000
Last week the SELEX Galileo Edinburgh Charity Golf Committee was proud to present Woodlands School with a cheque for £5000. School pupils Findlay Gillespie and Ann Marie Mooney and Head Teacher Aisling Boyle thanked the committee for the funds which will be used to build an all-weather play area for the children.
Also present was the winner of the Golf Championship, Kenneth Wilson of Walker Precision Engineering and committee members Richard Gillies, Robert Creegan, John McHugh, David Kelly and Marie Cooper.
SELEX Galileo
NEN man grilled by Forthview P5s!
I paid a visit to Forthview Primary yesterday to meet the P5 children and talk about the NEN and how North Edinburgh has changed over the years. It’s usually me who asks the questions when I’m out and about, but the tables were well and truly turned yesterday! It was great fun, though, and I promised to post the childrens’ comments on the visit on the NEN blog (see below). ‘Super duper smart and cool?’ – that’ll do me!
In P5A Dave came into talk about a newspaper called the NEN. He was very nice and all the information was outstanding. It taught me a lot. I was very happy. I think he has done a good job and thank you for letting us keep the amazing newspaper.
Demi
When Dave came to visit from NEN, he told everybody a lot of interesting information, like about before there were any speed bumps. We also learnt about a nursery that got set on fire. Dave was super duper smart and cool. We had a great time.
Louise
This morning Dave from the NEN news came into our class and told us about himself and why he wanted his job. He wanted his job because he said it would be good working at a place about where he lives. After he gave us all a newspaper each and everybody had a look at it. I learned that he did more than one job.
Natalie.
Thanks, P5!
Blackhall Library set for gardener visit
Jupiter Artland’s head gardener will be giving a talk at Blackhall Library on Wednesday evening at 7pm as part of the library’s ‘Autumn Almanac’ series. Tickets are available from the library or telephone 529 5595.
For further information about the fascinating Jupiter Artland visit www.jupiterartland.org
Muirhouse Housing Association marks milestone with Fun Day
Muirhouse Housing Associaiton will welcome tenants old and new when they celebrate their 20th anniverary with a fun day at Muirhouse Millennium Centre this afternoon.
With acrobats and magicians, face painting and balloon modelling there’s all the fun of the fair, and for the more energetic there’s a bouncy castle, inflatable assualt course, Zumba or an opportunity to take part in fun exercise classes using hulahoops!
The fun gets under way at 1pm – happy birthday, MHA!
Community award for Malcolm Chisholm
Edinburgh North and Leith MSP Malcolm Chisholm was awarded Pilton Central Association’s Rose Bowl at the community organisation’s annual general meeting this evening. The Rose Bowl is awarded annually to people who have made a major contribution to community life in North Edinburgh, and Malcolm Chisholm is the first politician to receive the award since it’s introduction in 1990.
PCA chairperson Betty McVay said: “The Rose Bowl was donated to the PCA by one of my predecessors, Agnes Laidlaw, who was a tremendous example to community activists. The Rose Bowl is presented to individuals who we feel have made a contribution to making this community a better place to live. Malcolm certainly falls into that category, and has done for a number of years. I know Malcolm has to declare all gifts and presents, so I should point out that this rose bowl is only his to keep for a year – we’ll be wanting it back!”
Malcolm, who has represented North and Leith at both Westminster and then Holyrood since 1992, was genuinely surprised to receive the award. “This is a huge shock, but I’m very honoured and feel very humble to have been considered for a community award like this, particularly here in North Edinburgh. Truly, I’m overwhelmed.”
The Rose Bowl presentation was the highlight of a very successful night for the PCA in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre. The meeting was very well attended and the PCA managed to attract a full complement of sixteen committee members, including a number of new faces … and, would you believe it, a young person!
There were two guest speakers at the meeting. North Edinburgh Social History Group’s Roberta Blaikie gave an entertaining history of the succesful community project which has been running for almost four years – and shows no sign of stopping yet! PCA’s financial support enabled the Social History Group to publish their acclaimed ‘Never Give Up’ book.
Jimmy Butler has been a friend of the PCA since ‘being dragged into Ferry Road Drive in 1974 and painting the back shop!’ Most recently Jimmy has been working on a business plan for the PCA and he gave a brief introduction to the draft Community Enterprise Operational Plan. The plan will be discussed in detail at forthcoming committee meetings, but Jimmy said the plan will help PCA to ‘move forward and remain relevant’. He added: “The PCA has been here, well, forever and let’s hope we can make sure it will be here forever!”