Fort Kinnaird has donated £5,000 to help some of the charities and organisations most impacted by the pandemic across the capital’s Niddrie and Craigmillar areas.
The local grassroots charities have each received £1,000 from a dedicated fund set up by Fort Kinnaird owners British Land and were selected due to the key role they play in supporting the local community.
Venchie Children & Young People’s Project, Thistle Foundation, Craigmillar Now, Richmond’s Hope and Caring in Craigmillar are among the charities to receive support from Fort Kinnaird.
Venchie Children & Young People’s Project provides play, recreation, and issue-based youth work to school children from across Niddrie, with access to activities including drama club, residentials, and breakfast and after school clubs.
Thistle Foundation is a charity supporting those with long-term health conditions and disabilities, enabling them to live independently in their own homes, while Craigmillar Now brings the local community together through art with a host of different exhibitions throughout the year.
Richmond’s Hope provides support for children and young people dealing with bereavement by offering a safe space for children to work through their grief, helping them to preserve memories of their loved one, explore their feelings, and provide them with coping strategies for handling their loss.
Caring in Craigmillar is a charity dedicated to improving the quality of life for vulnerable older people with complex care needs, preventing them from becoming isolated and encouraging community integration.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “The past 12 months have been an incredibly challenging time for local charities who have seen funding disrupted by the pandemic. Our commitment to our community has never been more important, and I’m so pleased we can support some of those organisations that need it most.
“The chosen charities do such amazing work across our immediate local communities of Niddrie and Craigmillar and we hope our donation goes some way in helping them to continue to do so.”
This initiative is part of Fort Kinnaird’s wider programme of work in the community which included the launch of its Giving Box installation, designed to encourage visitors to make small donations while at the centre to help support local organisations.
Fort Kinnaird has gifted £1,250 worth of books to Venchie Children & Young People’s Project to be given to children and young people in the South East of Edinburgh.
Venchie’s Children & Young People’s Project helps children and young people in Niddrie with a range of play, recreation, and issue-based youth work.
The donation means that the charity has been able to gift a diverse range of books covering a variety of genres and themes for different age groups, providing local youngsters with stories to read for enjoyment at home.
The books have been delivered by Venchie’s alongside special art boxes by to enable youngsters in the local area to keep being creative during lockdown.
The initiative has been led by Fort Kinnaird’s owner, British Land, and the National Literacy Trust through their ongoing partnership which is now in its tenth year.
This latest contribution is part of the shopping centre’s broader work in the community, which included the donation of 300 books during the first lockdown last year, as well as the installation of a Giving Box at Fort Kinnaird where visitors can make contactless donations to support local charities.
Susan Heron, Manager at Venchie Children & Young People’s Project, said: “The pandemic has impacted the families we help in all kinds of ways, and we’re incredibly thankful for all of the support Fort Kinnaird has given to us.
“These book donations have helped children of all ages across our community who might not have had access to them otherwise.”
Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh. April 15 2021
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said:“We’ve been supporting Venchie’s Children & Young People’s Project for many years, and know they do an incredible job supporting youngsters in the local area.
“The past twelve months have been challenging for all charities, so it’s now more important than ever to keep supporting them as they continue to give back to those most in need.”
Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: “We know that 1 in 11 disadvantaged children do not have a single book at home and that this can be hugely detrimental to their development.
“Initiatives like these ensure local families have books to enjoy at home, and children’s imaginations and literacy skills can continue to thrive.”
Homeless charity Rowan Alba is appealing for local volunteers to support its CARDS befriending service which works with people across the city, providing vital support and social contact to reduce isolation.
The Community Alcohol Related Damages Service (CARDS) was set up by Rowan Alba in 2010. Those who are referred to CARDS by health care specialists, GPs, hospitals and mental health services have, for various reasons, become isolated and developed a problematic relationship with alcohol. CARDS volunteers are there to provide vital social contact and to listen without judgment.
A team of 60 volunteers deliver 1-1 befriending support to 80 clients across the city, usually meeting once a week to provide emotional support, helping clients build their social skills and confidence to engage with their local community.
Since getting support from CARDS, 69% of clients have reported improved mental health, 77% have reduced their alcohol intake and 80% said life was less chaotic. 69% said they have spent less time in hospital.
As a crucial befriending service for older people with long term alcohol issues and at risk of crisis, CARDSis just one of a number of services delivered by Rowan Alba in supporting some of Edinburgh’s most vulnerable, isolated and homeless people. The charity aims to break the cycle of homelessness for people deemed ‘un-houseable’ by other services.
Rowan Alba pioneered the home for life concept with Thorntree Street in Leith, providing permanent homes for older men with a long-term history of rough sleeping and street drinking. The charity’s second home for life property will open in Peffermill in 2022.
Rowan Alba also provides temporary supported accommodation at Stramullion in Pilton, supporting women with complex needs to move out of homelessness and into their own home.
The charity has years of expertise working with older people with alcohol issues; these issues may stem from years of health inequality, trauma, homelessness, family breakdown, mental health issues time spent in prison or abuse. Many have developed Alcohol Related Brain Damage (ARBD), which has left them physically and emotionally damaged and socially isolated.
Tracey Stewart, Volunteer Service Manager at Rowan Alba said; “We have all faced periods of isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic but for those who are referred to CARDS, social isolation is something many have lived with for years.
“The 1-1 befriending service provided by our volunteers provides vital emotional support, helping clients to re-learn how to manage a trusting relationship with another person.
“CARDS urgently needs more volunteers to support our clients across Edinburgh, so we are looking for people who can provide compassionate support for individuals who have had a difficult relationship with alcohol now or in the past.
“Ideally you will have had experience in a role where managing relationships is key. Being able to listen without judgment and understand the benefit of human contact is vital.
“Our best volunteers are the kind of people whom you end up chatting to at a bus stop and go away being moved by the interaction. It’s as simple as that. We provide all the support, training and guidance that you need.
“Half of our staff started as volunteers and 85% of people who were looking to get in to social care as a career find themselves within employment within the first year after volunteering Those who come for the experience hang around for much longer. It’s a community in itself.”
Comprehensive training and support are provided and volunteers are asked to make a time commitment of at least 1 year.
Full details of the application process are available at:
Rapid coronavirus (COVID 19) testing is now available for people without symptoms in the Craigmillar area as the Capital’s first Asymptomatic Testing Centre goes live.
The community testing initiative, in partnership with the Scottish Government, aims to drive down local COVID 19 rates and transmission by identifying positive cases more quickly, as people can spread the virus to others before symptoms appear.
Residents who do not have any of the three COVID symptoms (a new continuous cough, temperature, loss or change in sense of taste or smell) are encouraged to get tested.
There is no need to book and testing is available from Craigmillar Library from today, 21 April, until Sunday 2 May 2021 inclusive. The ATC will be open daily from 9am to 6pm.
This site is only for people without symptoms. Anyone with COVID 19 symptoms should self-isolate and book a test in the usual way via nhsinform.scot or by calling 0800 028 2816.
Residents will be tested using lateral flow devices (LFDs), which can give people their results in around 45 minutes. Any positive cases will then be confirmed by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test.
Further advice and information on what support is available for people who need to self isolate is available from nhsinform.scot / www.edinburgh.gov.uk
Council Leader Adam McVey said: “Things are definitely moving in the right direction now that we’re in a position to unlock gradually, but there’s absolutely no room for complacency – we need to keep on top of case numbers and make sure any localised outbreaks are minimised as much as possible.
“It’s really important we give people in areas where cases are higher the chance to come forward for a test even when they don’t have any symptoms. That way we can monitor and help check the spread of the virus in our communities.
“Edinburgh citizens have gone above and beyond to help us tackle the pandemic by following public health guidance. These new ATCs will help us make even more progress in reducing the spread of this dreadful virus.
“Centres will be rolled out in targeted areas across Edinburgh in response to public health data over the coming months. The next centre is due to open in Wester Hailes Library from 3 – 9 May and future locations will be publicised as soon as they’re confirmed.”
Depute Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Recent research has shown that asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases can contribute to more than 40% of Covid19 transmission. it’s quick and easy to get tested – these Lateral Flow swab tests don’t need to be sent to a lab for analysis and the results are available within an hour.
We want as many local people as possible in the Craigmillar area to come forward for a test if they’re not displaying symptoms of the virus, to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe. If we can keep case numbers low in the city as a whole, we’ll all see the benefit as things begin to open up again in a Covid-safe way.”
Trish Lindsay, who lives in the local area, was one of the first people to come forward for a test at the new ATC in Craigmillar Library. She said: “I’d never thought about coming for an asymptomatic test before but, when the centre opened, I thought that I would come along for one.
“As we’ve heard on lots of news reports, there are so many people that are asymptomatic, so the more people that can come along and get tested, the faster we’ll eventually get rid of this pandemic.”
Katie Dee, Interim Director of Public Health, NHS Lothian, said: “We are aware that COVID-19 is often spread by people who don’t have symptoms or they have symptoms that are so subtle they do not recognise the infection.
“Asymptomatic testing enables us to identify the infection so that people are not spreading the infection to their families, colleagues and the wider community. It will also allow us to better understand the rate of infection in people who are not showing signs of COVID-19.
“The centres will also give advice about support for isolation for people with a positive test. By participating in asymptomatic testing, you will help reduce the overall spread of COVID-19.”
Anyone with the symptoms of COVID 19 – a new continuous cough, temperature, loss or change in sense of taste or smell – should go online to nhsinform.scot to book a test or call 0800 028 2816 if you cannot get online.
A 15-year-old youth has been charged in relation to damaging a bus and injuring a bus driver in Craigmillar. The incident happened on Tuesday (2nd March) on Niddrie Mains Road after an item was thrown at a moving bus.
Chief Inspector Murray Tait of Leith Police Station said: “Dealing with disorder and antisocial behaviour is a priority for the police in Edinburgh.
“Following our appeal I would like to thank our local community for their assistance with this matter and ask that parents and carers speak to their children and young people about the potential dangers of this kind of behaviour.”
Police are appealing for information following a wilful fire at the Venchie Children and Young People’s Project in Craigmillar on Friday (15 January).
Between 8.30pm and 9pm, a wheelie bin was placed against a shipping container at the premises on Niddrie Mains Terrace and set alight. The container subsequently caught light and the contents within were destroyed.
The items included clothes, food and playground equipment and were estimated to be worth almost £10,000.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended and extinguished the fire. Nobody was injured during the incident.
Police are treating the fire as wilful and are appealing for information after three teenagers were seen in the area close to the time the fire occurred.
They are described as:
1) White, male, around 15/16 years old, slim build with short light brown hair. He was wearing a dark puffer jacket with hood, light coloured trousers and trainers.
2) White, female, around 15/16 years old, medium build with long blonde hair. She was wearing a dark body warmer over a light coloured jumper, light coloured trousers and shoes. She was also carrying a dark handbag.
3) White, female, around 15/16 years old, slim build with long blonde hair. She was wearing a dark jacket with light coloured trousers and shoes.
Constable Gareth Deering, of Craigmillar Police Station, said: “This completely reckless act has resulted in key equipment provided for children and young people in the community being destroyed.
“I am appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw any suspicious activity, or three teenagers matching this description, to come forward. Information can be provided to police on 101, quoting reference number 3382 of 15 January, or to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you prefer to remain anonymous.”
Funding for Pennywell Culture & Learning Hub and Granton Station
Five projects across the city are to benefit from the city council’s Town Centre Fund. Gracemount public realm, Craigmillar town centre, Westside Plaza Phase 3, Granton Station, Pentlands Community Space and Pennywell Hub have all been chosen to receive a share of the £1.454 million being allocated.
The funding for all of these local projects was passed at today’s City of Edinburgh Council full council meeting.
The money is part of £3.567 million of total investment that the City of Edinburgh Council received, over two rounds, from the Scottish Government Town Centre Fund. The funding seeks to drive local economic activity and invest in inclusive growth which supports town centres to become more diverse and sustainable, creating more vibrant, creative, enterprising and accessible places for their communities.
Local MSP, Ben Macpherson, has said that “the £747,000 investment for the Granton Station project will create a new destination in the heart of North Edinburgh for locals and visitors alike, and is an exciting aspect of the wider Waterfront development.”
Edinburgh Pentlands MSP, Gordon MacDonald, was also delighted to see “two brilliant local projects in Edinburgh Pentlands receiving the backing they need to take them another step closer to becoming a reality” as Westside Plaza Phase 3 and Pentlands Community Space were confirmed as they received £300,000 and £75,000 respectively.
The projects receiving funding also includes the Craigmillar town centre project and their bid to receive £170,000.
This funding will support them to turn a vacant site in the heart of the Craigmillar regeneration area into a hub for the local community and provide spaces for new and existing businesses.
The Edinburgh East MP, Tommy Sheppard, has said “This is an imaginative project that can help stimulate business in Craigmillar in a way that works with the grain of social distancing. It’s the kind of smart, targeted investment we need to bounce back from the pandemic.”
Commenting on the city wide funding, Convener of Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work, Cllr Kate Campbell, said: “We know that the impact on businesses from the pandemic has been especially hard, and that jobs and livelihoods are at risk. It’s important that we are doing everything we can to boost economic activity in our town centres so this allocation of additional funding to the Town Centres fund could not have come at a better time.
“We’re investing in public realm in areas of the city that we know have high levels of poverty. These are communities that need this investment.
“Most of these projects focus on transforming public realm. At Granton and Craigmillar this is going further, and creating a space that can be used for outdoor markets and pop up food and drink stalls.
“I’m really pleased that we are creating economic opportunities in the communities that will really feel the benefit. It’s about quality of life – creating public space that is safe, well designed, pedestrian and cycle friendly, and a place that people want to be. When we create spaces like this, we encourage people to use their local town centres in a way that’s good for the community and good for local businesses.
“The other benefit of these projects is that they all involve construction – so at the same time as benefiting communities, and improving public space, we’re also creating jobs at a time when they are desperately needed.”
The SNP’s Ethan Young has won the vacant council seat in the Craigentinny Duddingston ward.
The by-election was brought about by the resignation of SNP councillor Ian Campbell, who resigned for health reasons back in February.
The SNP candidate was well ahead in First Preference votes and was elected at Stage Six:
ETHAN YOUNG (SNP) … 2920
Eleanor Price (Scottish Conservatives ) … 1420
Margaret Graham (Scottish Labour) … 1205
Ben Parker (Scottish Greens) … 1185
Elaine Ford (Scottish Lib Dems) … 631
Andrew McDonald (Independent) … 93
Tam Laird (Scottish Libertarian Party) … 42
The result makes no difference to the running of the city, where the SNP remains in charge with the support of Labour in the ‘Capital Coalition’.
Despite efforts to encourage people to vote, the turnout was just 31.6% – fewer than one in three voters cast their ballot.
Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Andrew Kerr, said: I’d like to thank all those who took part in the by-election, despite the challenging circumstances we face. It’s been a difficult year but local democracy is still extremely important, so I’m pleased to welcome Ethan Young, who will help represent the community as we work to emerge from the crisis, and on a range of other issues affecting the ward and city.
“I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and planning that has gone into staging this election. I’ve heard from many constituents who have praised the safe, physically distanced voting process, which is with thanks to our Elections Team, who have spent months preparing for the event.
Lifecare Edinburgh Limitedreceives £79,990 to continue its Vintage Vibes service across the city for the next two years.
Andrew Ainsworth, Service Co-ordinator, Vintage Vibes, said: “Vintage Vibes tackles isolation and loneliness in over 60s (VIPs) across Edinburgh through one to one friendships with local volunteers, based on shared interests.
“Edinburgh is the loneliest city in the UK for older people – something we know has only been exacerbated through the current pandemic. This grant will allow us to continue to support our current VIPs and many more over the next couple of years as we move through and beyond COVID-19.
“We know what a difference their friendships make to our VIPs – one VIP, Norma told us that for her ‘it’s essential to have something like Vintage Vibes’. Thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund and to all National Lottery players for making it possible for us to continue to make a difference to our VIPs.”
Thistle Health and Wellbeing receives £120,000 to deliver a programme which will support people who have been severely impacted by long term physical and mental health conditions. The support will also help clients who are living with the longer term effects of COVIVD-19, including Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome.
The project will help many more people like Rafit Khan, aged 41, from Edinburgh.
Rafit said: ““I met different people which has made me feel good about myself, more confident to approach people. I think groups like this are very beneficial for people with mental or physical problems or with chronic illness. It gives them skills/tools to manage it throughout their life.”
Welcoming the funding, Mark Hoolahan, CEO, Thistle Health and Wellbeing, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. The grant will enable Thistle to support more people living with long term health conditions to live a life free of isolation and loneliness.
“Thistle supports people to feel more in control, ensuring that a health crisis does not become a life crisis, and so this funding will have a significant positive impact on the wellbeing of people in Edinburgh and the Lothians.”
National Lottery players raise £30 million every week for good causes in the UK. The National Lottery Community Fund in Scotland is currently focusing its funding on those projects that supporting organisations and communities to respond to the challenge of COVID-19.
The candidates standing in the forthcoming Craigentinny/Duddingston Council by-election have been confirmed. Seven candidates have been nominated to stand in the by-election, which is due to take place on 12 November.
There will be additional hygiene and distancing measures at polling places on the day to keep voters and staff safe. These include a new pencil for each voter, protective screens for polling staff, limits to the number of voters in polling places at one time and one-way systems in some venues.
The candidates standing for election are: –
Elaine Ford, Scottish Liberal Democrats Margaret Arma Graham, Scottish Labour Party Tam Laird, Scottish Libertarian Party Andrew McDonald, Independent Ben Parker, Scottish Green Party Eleanor Price, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Ethan Young, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Returning Officer for Edinburgh Andrew Kerr said: “Now that nominations have closed residents in the Craigentinny/Duddingston ward can begin to think about who they will vote for in the upcoming by-election. However, it’s crucial that you make sure you’re registered to vote by 27 October to take part.
“With less than a month to go our Elections Team are finalising plans for a safe, physically distanced by-election, with several hygiene and distancing measures to be put in place. Anyone can also register for a postal vote before 28 October if they’d prefer not to vote in person.”
If you live in the Craigentinny/Duddingston ward you must register to vote by 27 October and anyone wishing to vote by post can sign up for a new postal vote up until 28 October. Residents will begin receiving poll cards from tomorrow (Tuesday, 13 October).
You can also apply for someone to vote on your behalf via proxy voting, with the deadline for new proxy vote applications on 4 November (for registered voters). After this, anyone who is unable to vote in person because of a medical emergency or who is following advice in relation to Covid-19 can apply for a proxy vote before 5pm on 12 November.
The by-election follows the resignation of SNP Councillor Ian Campbell in February. Craigentinny/Duddingston is one of the city’s larger wards, with an electorate of 24,258.
As of 9 October, 3,693 people had registered for a postal vote.
While the Conservatives are currently now the biggest party group in the City Chambers with 17 councillors, the capital is run by the SNP (16) with the support of Labour(11) in a ‘Capital Coalition’.
