SWIMMERS COMPLETE 972 LAPS IN TWO HOUR CHALLENGE
YESTERDAY our amazing Swimathon team smashed 977 laps in 2 hours!
There is still time to donate to the JustGiving organised by Traci to enter the raffle for the chance to win great prizes!
Thank you to all who took part & donated to help us reach our goal
Two units which provide vital care and treatment to some of the most unwell patients in Scotland have been transformed by NHS Lothian as part of a multi-million pound investment.
A new Cancer Assessment Unit (CAU) and an oncology ward for systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT) are now open and delivering care to patients at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre (ECC).
The ECC, based in the Western General Hospital, supports an average of 7,000 inpatient admissions, 25,000 day-cases and 100,000 outpatient attendances each year from across the Lothians, Scottish Borders, Fife and Dumfries and Galloway.
The demand for treatment and services has significantly outgrown facilities and available space in recent times, but the new refurbishments have enabled significant modernisation to improve the care and overall experience for patients.
Chris Stirling, Site Director for the Western General Hospital, NHS Lothian, said: “This is a great step forward to upgrade our existing infrastructure.
“We know how important and reassuring a welcoming environment is at a worrying time, and we’re delighted that our current patients have access to better facilities.
“This is an important step in our ambition toward a new centre for the future of the southeast of Scotland to enable us to meet the rising demand of a growing population.”
The upgrades are part of a £24 million package of enabling works within oncology services, funded by the Scottish Government, which are due to be completed in 2024.
This is in advance of a longer-term plan for the full reprovision of the Edinburgh Cancer Centre which has been proposed by NHS Lothian in response to the population growth in the region and constraints of the existing ECC.
The refurbished SACT ward, which is where treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy are administered to patients, has seen an extensive programme of work – including new flooring, ceilings, paintwork, lighting, bed head services, fire safety upgrades and a new reception area.
There is now a dedicated space for patients to be assessed and prepped for their therapy, and comfortable chairs for patients to begin their treatment while awaiting a bed.
Four-bedded bays have been reconfigured into two-bedded bays, giving patients greater privacy. Where eight patients previously shared a bathroom, there is now an ensuite facility for every two beds.
The new CAU provides a fresh, purpose-built environment for patients to attend for assessment or diagnostic tests prior to potential admission to an inpatient hospital bed.
The CAU also has a dedicated family room with a double sofa bed and its own ensuite facility for relatives who may need to stay close to their loved one overnight.
Mrs McLean, 61 from Edinburgh, said: “Following a sudden and unexpected reaction to my treatment, I was taken to the new Cancer Assessment Unit. I was so grateful to be welcomed immediately by the medical team there.
“At such a worrying time for me, the nurses and doctor were not only reassuring, friendly and kind, but their professional clinical care was exceptional. Their thoughtfulness extended to my family sitting in the waiting area close to my treatment bay who were soon invited to join me.
“I really appreciated being in such a modern, comfortable facility and my experience of the CAU could not have been better or more positive. I can’t thank the medical staff enough for their excellent care of me in the new unit.”
Road Policing officers are appealing for information after a pedestrian was seriously injured in a crash on South Groathill Avenue at Queensferry Road South.
The incident, which happened around 7.10am on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024, involved a red and white DAF truck and a pedestrian.
Emergency services attended and a 58-year-old woman, the pedestrian, was taken by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Her condition has been described as critical but stable.
The road was closed for around two hours to allow for investigations to take place.
Sergeant Louise Birrell said: “Our enquiries into this collision are ongoing and we would like to ask anyone that was in the area at the time who has not already spoken to us to please get in touch.
“We would also be keen to see any dashcam or private CCTV footage from the area around the time of the crash. In particular, there was a blue BMW X2 which was stationary at the time and may have information which could assist.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0487 of 17 April.
YOU are invited to our second follow up engagement session on Saturday 20th April at the Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre from 1:30-3:00pm.
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre – DNC – The place to be! (drylawnc.org.uk)
We are very pleased and grateful to the team at the Neighbourhood Centre as we will be joining their Future Family Fun Day taking place on the same day. We will be there to share some of the draft designs and ideas for the park and we’d love to hear your feedback.
As a reminder, we have been working with the City of Edinburgh council to develop concept designs for enhancements across Drylaw Park. These include improvements to park connectivity, accessibility and safety, infrastructure to address surface water issues, nature enhancements and improvements to play provision.
The concept designs take these themes into account and have considered a variety of previous feedback from the community and other key stakeholders.
The Drylaw Park forms part of the Climate Ready Craigleith project which sits under the cities overarching Climate Ready Edinburgh strategy and there is more information on the developing storymap here:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/6c5e4815a3f54ce5be4d6f99b0dff213
Lets hope for some April sunshine and look forward to seeing you on the 20th April!
Urgent Call to Action! 
Help make our Fun Day spectacular!
We’re on the lookout for Tombola prizes and your generosity can make all the difference! 
Whether it’s chocolates 
, toys 
, toiletries 
, or bottles of your favourite drinks 
, every contribution counts!
Support our centre by donating new items for our Tombola. Your support can bring smiles to many faces!
Drop off your donations at our community centre by Friday, April 19th. Let’s make this event unforgettable, together! 
Please get in touch for any information.
Thank you in advance for your kindness and support!
Our Centenary Dinner is fast approaching. We’d love to welcome more former members to the night. We have one former member of the club coming all the way from Australia.
If you would like to come along please let me know so I can add you to one of our Former Members Tables. Tickets are £100 and this includes a champagne reception with canapés, a three course meal with wine and beer.
I hope to see you on the night
Richie
I am getting in touch to follow up with some information regarding the Drylaw Park project and to invite you to our second follow up engagement session on Saturday 20th April at the Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre from 1:30 – 3:00pm at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre – DNC – The place to be! (drylawnc.org.uk)
We are very pleased and grateful to the team at the Neighbourhood Centre as we will be joining their Future Family Fun Day taking place on the same day. We will be there to share some of the draft designs and ideas for the park and we’d love to hear your feedback.
As a reminder, we have been working with the City of Edinburgh council to develop concept designs for enhancements across Drylaw Park. These include improvements to park connectivity, accessibility and safety, infrastructure to address surface water issues, nature enhancements and improvements to play provision.
The concept designs take these themes into account and have considered a variety of previous feedback from the community and other key stakeholders.
The Drylaw Park forms part of the Climate Ready Craigleith project which sits under the cities overarching Climate Ready Edinburgh strategy and there is more information on the developing storymap here:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/6c5e4815a3f54ce5be4d6f99b0dff213
Lets hope for some April sunshine and look forward to seeing you on the 20th April!
A heartfelt thank you to the Robertson Trust for their generous funding award of £27K over the next three years!
This funding is crucial as it supports our core costs, providing essential stability in a competitive funding environment.
We deeply appreciate the Robertson Trust’s belief in our mission and their invaluable support towards making a difference in our community. 
Come along to this crafts workshop on Monday afternoon!
Francia from Frank Francia will be teaching us how to make our own lampshade using jute.
Free for all!
Artisan Real Estate is set to progress with the ‘spectacular’ homes-led redevelopment of one of Edinburgh city centre’s largest potential development sites following planning approval by The City of Edinburgh Council (CEC). Councillors at CEC’s Development Sub Committee on Wednesday (13 March) were ‘minded to grant’ consent for 256 low-carbon homes and commercial space at 525 Ferry Road.
Artisan’s Section 75 Education contribution was voted through in line with the planning officers’ recommendation.
Regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate, together with fund manager REInvest Asset Management S.A., will now take forward their ambitious plans to redevelop the former Deutsche Bank House at 525 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, near the Crewe Toll roundabout.
The developers are set to transform the vacant site, to be known as ‘525 Park View’, into a new residential neighbourhood providing 256 sustainable homes, 25% of which will be for affordable housing. Flexible commercial space facing on to Ferry Road will provide potential for cafes, shops and shared workspaces.
Designed by Edinburgh-based 7N Architects, the proposals will dramatically raise the bar for sustainable city-centre living. More than two thirds of the development area will be made up of high-quality green spaces – including a large central communal garden as well as biodiverse green roofs and a ‘wetland’ area which enhances local ecology whilst contributing to the wider sustainable urban drainage system.
Smart technology such as individual air source heat pumps for each home also means no fossil fuels will be used, underlining the Artisan’s commitment to sustainable low carbon development and delivering low energy costs for occupiers.
The planning approval follows a comprehensive 14-month consultation programme, with the developers working closely with local community and wider city interests to ensure maximum benefit for both the local area and Edinburgh as a whole.
Welcoming the 525 Park View planning approval, Artisan Real Estate’s ’s Regional Director for Scotland, David Westwater, said: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity to breathe new life into an underused site, whilst ensuring its long-term future by bringing a new sustainable community to an accessible city centre location.
“Following the consultation feedback, we have worked hard to make this development not just the right fit for the site but also an integral part of the wider city centre area. We have reduced the heights of the building from nine to seven storeys and ensured the overall architectural design and materials respect local and historical contexts.”
He added: “We are also fully aware that we have the responsibility to ensure that our developments exceed all current environmental standards, setting new benchmarks for smart, sustainable living whilst providing a high quality of internal and external space.
“Our proposals have been guided by low-carbon design and encompass a mix of apartment sizes and layouts, led mainly by residential as well as much-needed affordable housing and other complementary commercial uses.”
Artisan Real Estate has a strong track record in delivering complex residential and mixed-use regeneration projects in sensitive city centre environments across the UK, and in 2023 won the inaugural ‘Excellence in Sustainability’ award at the 2023 Scottish Homes Awards.
Development partner REInvest Asset Management S.A. was founded in Luxembourg as a specialist for future-facing investment ideas and currently manages and develops properties across Europe with a value in excess of EUR 2.3 billion.
525 Park View is held in a progressive property fund within a pan-European portfolio managed on behalf of a German insurance group.
Thomas Merkes, Head of Asset Management at REInvest Asset Management S.A. added: “Our joint venture partnership with Artisan represents a major step forward in providing an innovative and collaborative mixed-use development solution to unlock the potential for this significant city centre site, which is set to create a genuinely transformational development in an accessible city centre location.
“The planning approval for this complex site demonstrates how we can make a positive contribution to the local area, bringing investment, life and excitement back to this important part of the city.”
