Category: Drylaw Telford

What can you use the internet for? A digital survey

What If…North Edinburgh? (WINE) is a programme run by First Port to support local people to develop social enterprises to create jobs and do something worthwhile in the community. Run by the manager, Julie Smith, it has assisted people over the last year to start up businesses doing sewing and tailoring, running markets and making crafts.

WINE offers workshops, training and discussions on various topics from ‘what is a social enterprise’ to managing your finances. It started a digital training course for local people just before lockdown, to include things like using social media, creating your own posters, how to sell online. That had to stop, but Julie is keen to offer training, this time online. She wants to know what would be useful for people.

“I got a really good tutor in from an organisation called Mhor Collective”, Julie explained. “They do a lot of work around what people want to learn, their motivation etc and don’t just have a set course they deliver. It’s tailored to people’s needs.

“Since lockdown, we’ve all seen how important having access to the internet it. But it’s hard if you can’t afford broadband or data – and if you have to share one tablet or phone between a whole family. I know a lot of people will have been doing home schooling too online, a very new thing for everybody!

“I’m doing a survey of people in north Edinburgh to find out what they’d like to learn to do, or do better using technology. We can then put on a course based on those needs. It’ll be great to build on the skills people already have and maybe identify some digital champions locally who can then go on to support others.”

The survey is straightforward and shouldn’t take too long.

“It’s important we get as many views from as many people as possible. If you need a paper copy of the survey, let me know. And pass it on to others!’’

The survey can be found online here WINE digital survey

If you have any questions about the survey or the other work WINE is doing, please contact Julie Smith: julie@firstport.org.uk or phone 07763 869 556.

Support for Drylaw Dance School


Three projects across Edinburgh and the Lothians have received new funding to offer local young people the chance to get involved in traditional Scottish music and dance – and one of them is based right here in Drylaw.  
In partnership with Creative Scotland, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Youth Development Fund supports 5-26yr olds in the development of skills in piping, drumming, Highland dance and traditional fiddle playing.

 Edinburgh’s Amanda Kane School of Dance is getting ready to host a series of fun Highland Dance classes at Drylaw Parish Hall, while Midlothian’s KIC Arts Development Trust is offering affordable access to online tuition in Highland Dance, drumming and piping, culminating in a showcase concert planned for February 2021. 

Sharon Jones, KIC Dance, said: “Through our classes – which will now include live music - we’re delighted to be able to create exciting opportunities for young people in the area to have fun learning new music and dance skills; develop new friendships and build self-confidence at the same time.”  

East Lothian’s Dunbar Music School and Dance Discovery are coming together to createa new youth music and dance group. Through online classes and workshops, the group is already working on its first project – a new composition and choreography inspired by the events of The Siege of Dunbar in 1338, and the historical figure of Agnes Randolph.   

These three projects are among sixteen taking place across Scotland.

Rucelle Soutar, Chief Operating Officer, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo said: “We’re delighted to see these wonderful projects being delivered from our 2019 Youth Development fund.

“At the Tattoo, celebrating Scottish traditional arts is a key goal, and we wish them the very best of success.”  

Colin Bradie, Head of Creative Learning, Creative Scotland said: “Whilst the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are extremely challenging in so many ways and for so many people, it’s inspiring to see how these creative projects have been adapted to continue to offer engaging, high-quality opportunities for young people to create new and exciting work and increase accessibility across traditional Scottish arts.”  

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support in North Edinburgh

Local organisations have put together a booklet listing mental health & wellbeing support services in North Edinburgh (see below).

If you need support call the new Community Wellbeing Helpline on 0131 332 8773.

Praise for Drylaw’s ‘urban art installation’

A controversial community art ‘installation’ has been praised by arts organisation Creative Scotland. Drylaw’s ‘Love My Docs‘, which is situated behind The Ferry Boat in Drylaw Shopping Centre, has been recognised as an iconic image of the coronavirus era.

Creative Scotland’s Ruaridh Afton-Waters said: “The Drylaw artwork is an important piece of modern sculpture, symbolising  a working class community’s fight against this all-powerful invisible enemy that is Coronavirus.

“What makes this piece so special is that it encourages local people to add their own pieces of art – and hundreds of community artists have stepped forward to embrace the challenge. Their imaginative contributions have built into an incredibly important statemement of empowerment.

“They are saying: ‘you won’t defeat us, coronavirus.  You can shut our museums and art galleries, you can even shut our Ferry Boat – but you’ll never destroy our spirit of creativity.’

“It is brutal, it is primitive, but most of all ‘Love My Docs’ is truly,  deeply moving.”

Moving, indeed – and some Drylaw residents are hoping the artwork will be moving on sometime soon!

North Edinburgh’s Food Share group updates city councillors

North Edinburgh’s Covid-19 Foodshare Group has written to city councillors to update them on the work of the local coalition:

Elected member,

Since the setting up of North Edinburgh Covid-19 Foodshare Group we have kept elected members informed of the work the community organisations, volunteers and funders have been carrying out in these very challenging times.

Attached is a newsletter which, by the end of this week, will be delivered, by volunteers, to 14,000 households in North Edinburgh. Please circulate this to any individuals or groups who will find the information helpful.

NEN_8pp_A4_MAY20_2

Over the past six weeks (20 April – 25 May 2020) North Edinburgh organisations have:

· Produced 58,258 Food Items/Packed Lunches/Packs

· Gifted 23,888 Food Items/Packed Lunches/Packs to other organisations

· Delivered 79,171 Food Items/Packed Lunches/Packs

· There have been specific deliveries for Milk, Butter, Vegetables,Toiletries and Fruit.

· Passion 4 Fusion are providing culturally specific foods for BAME communities in the area.

Of the 919 postcodes supplied by agencies, 582 residents lived in Deciles 1&2, which means we reaching some of the most vulnerable in North Edinburgh.

63.3% of Food Items delivered are reaching those who need it most.

Please get in touch if you want further information, regarding the work of North Edinburgh Covid-19 Foodshare Group.

Willie Black

Chair, North Edinburgh Covid 19 Food Share Group

Newsletter deliveries resume this morning

Volunteers will be hitting local streets once again today to deliver the NEN Coronavirus special edition newsletter across North Edinburgh.

An enthusiastic team of volunteers delivered thousands of newsletters across Drylaw and Telford, Muirhouse, Salvesen, West Pilton, Granton and Royston Wardieburn last week, and a final push will see the last of the newsletters delivered this week.

If you would like to lend a hand – full guidance and protective equipment will be issued – teams will be leaving from the following locations from Tuesday – Thursday this week:

Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, Groathill Road North at 11am

Fresh Start, Ferry Road Drive at 11am

Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway at 11am

Ainslie Park Leisure Centre car park, Pilton Drive North at 2pm

The newsletter contains helpful information and key telephone numbers to help local people get through the pandemic.

The North Edinburgh Covid-19 Foodshare coalition would like to thank our magnicent volunteers who have done so much to support the community dring these most difficult of times.

Thanks also to the following organisations for their terrfic support:

Funders:

Cash for Kids,

Inspiring Scotland,

North Edinburgh Community Councils,

Muirhouse Housing Association,

Pilton Central Association (PCA),

SCVO,

STV Appeal,

The National Lottery for Communities,

West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

Cairn Energy

Cramond FC

Edinburgh City Council

Lindsay’s Charitable Trust

Martin Lewis Foundation

Murray Foundation

National Emergencies Trust

Neighbourly Community Fund

Places for People Foundation

Port of Leith Housing Association

Queensberry House Trust

Richardson and Starling

Scottish Government

Stewart Investors.

Food, supplies and support have kindly been donated by:

Baillie Gifford, Chand & Co Group,

Edinburgh Academy,

Fettes College,

Mathieson’s the butchers,

Morrisons,

PrepTable Scotland,

Porto & Fi cafe,

Scottish Gas,

Social Bite,

Tesco,

TB McKay Energy Supplies

Investec

Neighbourly Community Fund.

We couldn’t do it without you – THANK YOU ALL !

 

Newsletter deliveries continue this weekend

Deliveries of the NEN Covid-19 Special Edition newsletter continue over the weekend – whatevever the weather! – and new volunteers are more than welcome.

Managed by members of North Edinburgh’s Covid-19 Food Share Group team, volunteers are delivering an informative newsletter to Drylaw, Pilton, Royston Wardieburn, Boswall and Granton.

Volunteers are given a route map and delivery instructions and are also issued with hand sanitiser, protective gloves and a contact number should they encounter any problems during the distribution run.

Meeting times this weekend:

Saturday 6th June and Sunday 7th June:

WEST PILTON / WEST GRANTON

11am – 1 hour delivering

Meet at Fresh Start, Address: 22-24 Ferry Rd Drive, EH4 4BR

Phone: Willie Black : 07515686421

GRANTON / BOSWALL

2pm: – 1 hour delivering

Meet at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre car park, 94 Pilton Drive, EH5 2HF

Phone: Willie Black: 07515686421

If you wish to deliver in your own time, call Lesley Hinds on 07778413792 or Willie Black on 07515686421.

Our thanks to the volunteers who have helped with distribution so far