Rowan Alba’s Stramullion Service celebrates ten years at West Pilton Park
Rowan Alba chief executive Helen Carlin and project manager Sue Evans were joined by staff, supporters and service users past and present at a reception to celebrate the tenth birthday of the organisation’s homeless women’s unit in North Edinburgh last Friday. Local MP Mark Lazarowicz was among the guests who gathered to mark the important milestone at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.
Rowan Alba’s Stramullion Service in West Pilton was established in 2003 in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council to provide secure short-term supported accommodation for up to ten women and their children in individual flats. Stramullion works with women aged 16+, with and without children, who are homeless – this includes young people who are in transition (for example, leaving care), women whose families have broken down, and those involved in offending, or alcohol or drug misuse.
Stramullion staff provide advice and support to enable each woman to build the personal skills and resources they need – equipping them to move on from homelessness in a positive and healthy way. Each personal support plan depends on individual circumstances and need, and just some of the core services which many Stramullion clients need include:
Welfare and benefits advice
Budget and debt management
Life skills training and home management
Tenancy maintenance support
Resettlement and social activities
Advice, information and support to access local community services
Referral to specialist social work, health and counselling services
Help with applications and grants
Move on support when the time comes to move in to their own home
A follow-up service after re-settlement.
The Stramullion (an old Scots word for ‘strong woman’) service believes that accommodation, support, education and employment provide women with the best route off the streets and out of the misery caused by homelessness.
Speaking at the anniversary event, Rowan Alba CEO Helen Carlin said: “I’m really delighted to be celebrating ten years in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council and all our supporters. I’m especially pleased to see so many current and past service users turning out to celebrate with us.”
Stramullion project manager Sue Evans, who has been at West Pilton since day one, added: “This is a very special day for us and it’s great to see so many people here. It’s really brilliant!”
Morrisons, the UK’s fourth biggest supermarket chain, is to launch an online grocery service.
Morrisons is currently the only one of the big four – Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s are the others – not to offer an online shopping option to their customers, but a deal with internet grocer Ocado will see it offer the new service by January next year.
Delivery vans will carry the Morrisons brand, with Ocado supplying logistical support from it’s distribution centre in the Midlands.
Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips told BBC Radio 4: “This is a very good transaction for both parties. We’re going from a standing start to the fast lane in the blink of an eye.”
Business analysts Conlumino predict that the total food and grocery market is forecast to grow 22% from £127bn to £155bn by 2017, with online food sales are expected to grow by nearly 70% over the same period, from £5.9bn to £10bn. Almost 30% of people in the UK now shop online for food and groceries.
Ever tried online grocery shopping? What’s the verdict? Let us know!
I’m sad to have to report the death of North Edinburgh activist Brian Robertson, who passed away yesterday.
Former ice cream man Brian Robertson was a doting father, a big Hearts fan and an Elvis fanatic who cared deeply about the North Edinburgh community and social justice. He was a committed community activist for many years, always willing to get involved in campaigns and battles – Brian didn’t believe in too many meetings and ‘talking shops’, although over the years he must have attended more than most.
A founding member of Greater Pilton’s Community Alliance, Brian was at his best when he was doing things, not just talking about doing things: he was never afraid to speak out, whether as a school board Chair opposed to closures and PPP or about the inherent unfairness of fuel poverty or the Fairer Scotland Fund. If there was a community campaign you could be sure that Brian would be there at the front.
Most recently, despite poor health, Brian was proud to be an active and enthusiastic member of the North Edinburgh Social History Group (pictured below, centre). He absolutely believed that the area’s proud story of protest and activism had to be told to a wide audience, particularly to encourage a new generation of younger activists to take up the fight. Among other achievements the group produced the excellent ‘Never Give Up’ book – and those three words sum up wee Brian’s attitude to community activism to a tee.
Deepest condolences to Brian’s girls, wider family and friends, and we’ll give details of Brian’s funeral when we have them.
North Edinburgh Theatre Project is preparing for a summer spectacular – and you can be part of it, as Stephanie Knight explains …
This message is to everyone to remind you that as from tomorrow (Saturday 18 May) we shall be having workshops from 12 noon – 2pm as well as the Friday evening workshops from 6 – 8pm. This is because we are working towards our performance on Saturday 29th June.
We are also working on a Saturday as some of you have said that you can come along then, but Friday evenings are not always so convenient. Everyone is very welcome to both sessions – Fridays and Saturdays.
We are working towards a very comical performance and there is fun for everyone to join in. So if you haven’t been at the workshops for a while, please don’t worry, you know you are always very welcome when you can make it. We have a crèche and it would be good to know if you are bringing your children so that we can plan crèche workers. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with me or Kate at North Edinburgh Arts.
National, citywide and local agencies, organisations and individuals joined together to find ways to fill the gaps when CORE (formerly the Black Community Development Project) was forced to close last year. That work continues, as Pilton Community Health Project’s Anita Aggarwal reports …
You may be aware that since the closure of CORE last year a small group of local people and organisations have been looking at the ongoing issues for the BME (black and minority ethnic) community.
There was a short consultation and the findings have been written up in the ‘Living in Harmony’ report (see below). We have offered to facilitate an action planning session to look at how local organisations and people can come together to tackle some of the issues raised in the report.
There has been a significant rise in the incidence of hate crime in the area, as well as many issues that affect the wider community. We hope that a broad spectrum of people and organisations will want to be part of this planning event. We also hope that by the end of the event local organisations and individuals will have committed to take forward actions that encourage interaction and integration between ethnic groups in the area and remove or reduce some of the barriers for the BME population to accessing services.
This workshop is open for all and we will provide creche (IF BOOKED IN ADVANCE) and refreshments. We particularly welcome members of the local Scottish community to take part.
It will take place on Friday 31 May from 9.30 – 12 followed by lunch, at The Spartans Academy at Ainslie Park. Please let me know if you will attend, or give me a call if you would like more information. Please feel free to forward this invitation to other interested parties.
Local newspapers received support from an unlikely source yesterday – no less a formidable figure than Westminster heavyweight Eric Pickles! Read on …
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is throwing his support behind Local Newspaper Week with a new law that will enshrine free press and help independent local newspapers thrive.
In a letter to the Newspaper Society, praising them for their campaign to highlight the contribution of the local newspaper industry, Mr Pickles says that when “local news flourishes, local democracy succeeds” and so he will be stopping councils from publishing regular “Pravda-style” free-sheets which, threaten local newspapers and waste taxpayers’ money printing up “town hall propaganda”.
Free press vital
Mr Pickles said he believes the 1,100 local newspapers across the country are important for preserving a healthy democracy by holding local authorities and politicians to account through informing readers of council activities. Local papers are read by over 30 million people every week and are viewed as one of the most trustworthy forms of media.
Publicity law necessary
Legislation proposed in the Local Audit and Accountability Bill will bring a new code of recommended practice on local authority publicity onto a statutory, rather than voluntary, footing limiting publication to 4 times a year, obliging councils to be cost effective and objective in any publicity material they publish.
Some councils have deliberately disregarded the current code and continue to publish free papers in direct competition to local newspapers. The new legislation will prevent this waste of tax payers’ money and misuse of council resources.
Mr Pickles (pictured below) said: “The spread of the town hall ‘Pravda’ is manifestly unfair because they offer cut price local news, but mixed in with council propaganda that pours taxpayers money down the drain. These free-sheets are often confused for the real thing by residents. I want our news to be told and sold under the masthead of an independent and free press, not through a knock-off Rolex imitation.”
Fair enough, this is English legislation, but
‘when local news flourishes, local democracy succeeds’
Housing Minister Margaret Burgess welcomed new tenants to the first completed phase of Miller Homes’ Varcity North development in North Edinburgh yesterday.
In total, 89 new apartments, consisting of one, two and three bedrooms, will be available at mid-market rental rates at the development.
In 2011, Miller Homes, the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) created a limited liability partnership (LLP) as part of the National Housing Trust’s initiative (NHT), aimed at fast-tracking the delivery of new homes for mid-market rental throughout Scotland.
The LLP is working with managing agent Places for People to manage the completed properties, identify potential tenants and manage the rentals over the contract term.
Rent First@Varcity North will be available for rent to selected tenants, (employed on a minimum salary of £10k per annum, but struggling to find an affordable home to rent).
Under the NHT initiative’s rules, homes must be available to rent for a five year period, following which, tenants will have the choice to purchase their house at the market value or move on. Should tenants select not to buy, Miller Homes will sell the property on the open market.
Housing Minister, Margaret Burgess said: “It is fantastic to see house developers like Miller Homes embrace the opportunities offered by the Scottish Government’s pioneering National Housing Trust initiative. These new homes at Varcity North will go some way towards providing much needed affordable rented accommodation for Edinburgh residents.
“The initiative has been hugely successful, with deals secured with 13 developers to deliver over 1000 high quality homes for families throughout Scotland at very little cost to the taxpayer. A vibrant, expanding housing sector stimulates growth and protects and creates jobs in the construction sector and wider economy.”
David Knight, Managing Director, Miller Homes Scotland said: “We are delighted to bring the mid-market rental homes to market slightly ahead of schedule. Securing affordable housing in Edinburgh remains difficult and the challenging lending environment also means that buying is still out of reach for some households.
“The 89 apartments will go some way to helping those in employment secure an affordable rental tenancy. The apartments are developed to Miller Homes’ high standards of the quality of the build, fixtures and fittings and will form part of vibrant, modern development, which is quickly establishing its own sense of community.
“Rent First@Varcity North provides much needed homes at affordable rents for key workers and has also created vital local employment opportunities within the house building industry.”
Rents per month are set at £457.20 for a one bedroom, £594.39 for a two bedroom en-suite apartment and a limited number of three bedroom apartments available. Further details are available from Miller Homes.
Councillor Norman Work represented the city council at the event. He said: “The affordable homes available at Varcity North are a welcome addition to the market in Edinburgh. We continue to tackle the shortage in affordable homes and look for opportunities like the LLP with Miller Homes and Scottish Futures Trust to bring these very welcome homes to fruition.
“With around one half of the national uptake of NHT being in Edinburgh that gives us a sizable amount of homes available for rent. Not only will it enhance the local community, it will also offer a significant boost for those who are in work, who can’t afford to rent at full market rent.
“It is a great model to increase availability of the number of homes for rent in the city and gives people a real opportunity to become tenants and secure a home of their own and save for the future.”
Christa Reekie, commercial director at Scottish Futures Trust said: “I am delighted that the first phase of homes is now complete, providing hundreds of people in the capital with high-quality homes at affordable rents. We are pleases with the high standards of the Varcity North development which has already attracted a great deal of interest.”
Miller Homes purchased the Varcity North site as part of a larger transaction from Telford College, which comprised three campuses (Telford South, Telford West and Telford North). The development of Telford West campus for Home Scotland Housing Association (40 affordable dwellings) was completed in 2010.
Telford South is now known as Varcity South and has become one of the city’s – and Miller Homes’ – flagship developments. The last campus, now known as Varcity North, comprises 327 apartments within five new build blocks and a possible converted building. The apartments under the NHT initiative are within the Dundas Campus and the Dean Campus.
New Varcity North tenant Claire Wilson chats to Housing Minister Margaret Burgess
Go For It, Centipede! Funding boost for Muirhouse Project
Muirhouse Centipede Project has received a grant of £60,000 from the Church of Scotland to build on it’s successes over the last year. The local project’s founder Linda Dunbar takes up the story:
The Centipede project has received the great news that we have been awarded £60,000 over three years from the Church of Scotland’s GoForIt Fund. This will enable the Centipede to continue on its journey and explore more activities. We are incredibly grateful for the support of the church in recognising the collaborative work already undertaken, and the value and potential of the people of the area. We still have to raise more money and are in the process of fund-raising – we would like to be able to match the £60K grant. The steering group has a planning day coming up in June where we will be figuring out how best to hear the voices of the community, and what THEY want to see the Centipede doing. If anyone has suggestions they can email them in to:
centipedeproject@gmail.com
If anyone would like to offer financial support to the project, they can get in touch via the same email.
On a personal note, can I thank the folk of Muirhouse for their enthusiasm for the community and their great spirit. It has been a joy to work with them all, and I look forward to the new centipede events, whatever they turn out to be. If folk want to see a short film highlighting just some of the Pilot Project events they can find it at:
Sixty young people from The Boys’ Brigade (BB) took part in the annual Beating Retreat ceremony at Edinburgh Castle last Saturday (11 May). The event, now in it’s 56th year, featured the pipes and drums, bugles and trumpets of The Edinburgh, Leith and District Battalion, The Central Band of the Boys’ Brigade, 3rd Johnstone Flute Band and 13th and 44th Dundee Pipe Band.
The ceremony saw each band march across the drawbridge and perform a short routine on the Castle Esplanade to the delight of the gathered crowd of spectators and dignitaries. Chief guest was Mike McCormick, Assistant Chief Constable, Police Scotland.
Alastair Chalmers, CEO, Edinburgh, Leith and District BB, said: “The young people came from BB bands from across Scotland and did us proud. Their professionalism and talent shone through. Luckily, the weather was on our side too and we managed to attract a large number of tourists to the event.”
Beating Retreat is a military ceremony dating back to the 16th century, first used when drums were used as signals in the battlefields. Beating the Retreat was a signal for troops to retreat from battle as light faded.
When will the next print issue of North Edinburgh News hit the streets? NEN’s voluntary board of directors met on Monday evening and agreed to aim for a summer edition – if advertising revenue can be assured the NEN will be out again at the end of June.
Our last print version was last distributed across North Edinburgh in February, and while NEN continues to have an online presence there are many local residents who do not have computer access, so receiving a copy of the print issue remains just as important as it always has.
To enable us to produce another newspaper, however, we must raise funds. The NEN receives no core funding, so to produce our newspaper we need to raise enough advertising revenue or sponsorship to cover our production costs.
Earlier this year NEN received community grant funding from both Forth and Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnerships to support efforts to improve income opportunities. This piece of work is now well underway – databases have been developed and over the coming weeks we will be contacting all local organisations, charities and businesses large and small to let them know how they can support North Edinburgh’s community newspaper. We’ll be casting the net further afield too – after all, the folk of North Edinburgh don’t only shop or access services in North Edinburgh! The aim of the exercise is not only to raise funding for another edition but to secure regular commitment from potential advertisers and sponsors to ensure the NEN’s longer term future.
This is not going to be a quick or easy task, so in the meantime, if you would like to advertise in NEN’s June issue or you would like any further information about advertising or sponsorship, please get in touch – through this blog, by email at northedinnews@gmail.com or telephone 07925 405 972.
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