The next meeting of Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership will take place on Monday 30 January at 6.30pm in Stockbridge Church, Saxe Coburg Street. Continue reading Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership to meet on 30 January
Category: Drylaw Telford
Still time to be part of your community council
Nominations for three of Edinburgh’s community councils is still open – but you have just two weeks left to submit your papers. Residents of the Craigmillar, Drylaw/Telford and Old Town community council areas who are passionate about their area are invited to play an active role and have their say on local issues.
Community councils give local residents and community groups such as youth forums, parent councils and student bodies a chance to influence what happens in their area. Members get involved in a wide range of activities, comment on planning and licensing applications, take part in community campaigns and work with others to improve the local area.
Community Councils are represented on each of the 12 Neighbourhood Partnerships where they work with local elected members, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, NHS Lothian and the voluntary sector to identify and deliver local priorities.
Meetings are usually held once a month and members can get involved in a variety of issues. Recent activities include: successfully lobbying to increase the frequency of a bus service, setting up a book festival and delivering an annual health fair.
Councillor Maureen Child, Communities and Neighbourhoods Committee Convener, said: “Democracy is a powerful force at all levels. By joining your local community council you can make a real difference to your neighbourhood, meet new people, learn new skills and take action on issues raised by local residents.
“We are looking for people of all ages and from all walks of life to get involved. Ideas, energy and enthusiasm are welcomed and the Council will provide support to get the best from being a community council member. I’d like to encourage anyone who’s interested in local democracy to get involved – be part of something great.”
People aged 16 years or older and are registered to vote can join. The nomination period for the community council elections runs from Monday 9 January to Monday 30 January 2017. Elections, where required, will take place on Thursday 23 February 2017. You can apply as an individual or as a local interest group, such as a Parent Council, a Friends of Parks group or sports club.
See below for nomination forms:
As one door closes ….
Baba’s Cave closes down – FetLor open day
Baba’s Cave, the store that seemed to stock almost everything, opens for the last time today in Muirhouse Shopping Centre.
The store, which was crammed with everything from air fresheners, buttons and batteries to washing powder, yarn and zebras (okay, maybe no zebras!) closes this afternoon. The boys from Baba’s insist they will be back as part of the area’s ongoing regeneration, but in the meantime everything must go and it’s bye, bye Baba’s!
FET-LOR OPEN DAY
It’s not all doom and gloom, however – FetLor Youth Club is throwing open it’s doors to the community this afternoon from 1 – 3pm. Call in and see the fantastic new facilities. Fun for all the family!
Come and see fabulous new FetLor
Saturday 14th January, 1 – 3pm
Come take a look inside the new building! Activities for all the family 🙂
Drylaw Telford to try again
Attempt to re-establish local community council
Edinburgh held the triennial community council elections last autumn, but Drylaw Telford was one of the neighbourhoods that failed to receive the minimum number of nominations required to be established. An attempt is now being made to rectify this and to re-establish Drylaw Telford Community Council once again. Continue reading Drylaw Telford to try again
Remembrance at Drylaw Parish Church
FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER at 10.45am
BINGO! Eyes down at Drylaw Church tonight
PRIZE BINGO
Drylaw Parish Church Hall
Friday 21st October – starts 7.30pm
Entrance ticket £1.50 includes free refreshment
All welcome
Council tenants: have your say!
City of Edinburgh Council tenants’ views are being sought on the Housing Service’s five year improvement plan and 2017/18 budget.
Leith Links set for community council election – but local CCs fail to attract enough members
An election is to be held for membership of Leith Links Community Council due to the volume of nominations submitted, but it’s a different story for two local community councils: both Drylaw Telford and Muirhouse Salvesen CCs failed to attract sufficient nominations to reform.
The nomination process closed on 26 September and membership has now been confirmed for the city’s other community councils.
Young people to help shape the future of their schools
The review into the way schools are run is seeking direct input from those most affected by Scotland’s education system – children and young people themselves, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said during a visit to Broughton High School yesterday.
In September, Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced the start of a major governance review, with the presumption that decisions will be devolved to school level. Underlining the commitment to involve and listen to pupils, the Scottish Government is funding work to gather their perspectives.
Young Scot, in partnership with Children in Scotland and Scottish Youth Parliament, is taking forward the engagement programme, which will secure input from a diverse range of young people with different life experiences – including those from urban and rural settings, in the care system, and who have a disability.
Announcing £60,000 to support this work over the next three months, Mr Swinney met today with some of the 90 pupils taking part in the first engagement session at Broughton High School in Edinburgh. He said: “Our review is about ensuring schools deliver the best outcomes for children and young people, with teachers empowered to make decisions about learning within schools, supported by parents and the local community.
“I’ve committed to listening to teachers, practitioners and partners. It’s also crucial that we seek the views of children and young people – on what works well with their learning and in their schools and where improvements can be made.
“The feedback gathered by Young Scot, Children in Scotland and the Scottish Youth Parliament will make a valuable contribution to the review process, shaping our mission to deliver excellence and equity throughout our education system.”
Louise Macdonald, Chief Executive of Young Scot, said: “Any conversation about the future of schools, education and learning needs to have children and young people at the heart. They are experts of their own experience, and it is vital they are given the opportunity to share their insight and their views about what matters so much for them today and in the future.”
Children in Scotland Chief Executive Jackie Brock said: “We believe that children and young people have the right to influence policy and legislation that has an impact on their lives. Hearing from school pupils about how their experience of education could be improved is a key part of this and we are delighted to be partners in a project with such a strong emphasis on consultation and engagement with our young people.”
Amy Lee Farioli, Vice Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: “Empowering children and young people to have their say in decisions that affect them is a fundamental right that all children and young people have. It is essential that they are involved in making decisions about their learning and the learning environment. We see activities like today’s event as vital for shaping the positive involvement of young people as equal, meaningful partners in decisions for the future.”