Lib Dems announce candidate list and pledge to “Put Recovery First”

As nominations close, Scottish Liberal Democrats have announced their list of candidates for Lothian and are pledging their commitment to make recovery from the pandemic their number one priority as MSPs.

Today the Scottish Liberal Democrats submitted their nomination papers for the upcoming Scottish parliament election to be held on the 6th May.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh Northern and Leith will be Rebecca Bell (above). She is also the mental health spokesperson for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Rebecca Bell said: “People are under huge pressure from the pandemic. There’s a lot of work to be done to recover from this crisis. It will not be easily done and we will need our complete focus on the project at hand.

“As an MSP, I want to focus on cutting mental health waits, a bounce back plan for education, creating jobs and tackling the climate emergency.

“After years of arguing about independence and Brexit, the last thing we need right now is another independence referendum.

“As the MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, I will put the recovery first.”

Willie Rennie said: “This election is about priorities. Liberal Democrats will put recovery first. After the dreadful year we have endured, people want a needle-sharp focus on jobs, mental health, our NHS, schools and the climate crisis.

“With ten years of experience as leader I have won support for areas like mental health, education and nursery education.  For me it has always been about investing in people so they can do great things.

“For the next five years the divided nationalists will put independence first, dividing the country too.

“For the next five years I will put the recovery first, cut mental health waits, help pupils bounce back, create jobs and take action on the climate. The SNP will prioritise another independence referendum.

Voluntary Sector Forum: Zoom meeting tomorrow

Forth and Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum meets tomorrow (Thursday 14 January) at 10:30am via Zoom.

We look forward to hearing updates from the group and also welcoming Jim O’Rorke from Ash Scotland who will do a short presentation on smoking and deprivation.

Also, forum member, Kate Wimpress of North Edinburgh Arts will give the group an update on the planned development of the MacMillan hub community space off Pennywell Road.

Kate Barrett

EVOC Development Worker – Community Planning

Advice and support still available at Granton Information Centre despite latest lockdown

Following the latest coronavirus guidelines announced on Monday, Granton Information Centre staff are working from home and our office on West Granton Road will remain closed for the foreseeable future – BUT PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT WE ARE STILL OPERATING!

You can contact us by email at info@gic.org.uk or by calling 0131 551 2459 or 0131 552 0458.

Any messages left on our answering machine will be dealt with as soon as possible – please ensure you clearly leave your full name and telephone number when leaving a message.

Let’s all play our part in keeping each other safe, stopping this terrible virus and getting life back to normal!

Forth & Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum meets tomorrow

This is a reminder for the Forth and Inverleith VSF on Zoom, tomorrow – Wednesday, Nov 4th at 11am

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82718053569?pwd=dXBFc3ZqUWZXTjFONlNOUkhyQ1F3dz09

Meeting ID: 827 1805 3569

Passcode: 938535

We will use the below agenda to guide our discussion and welcome Dr Linda Irvine-Fitzpatrick and Dr Peter Kitchen as guests to the forum:

1.      Welcome and introductions – name and organisation

  1. Dr Linda Irvine-Fitzpatrick: Updates from the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (Edinburgh Pact, Thrive, Three Conversations)
  2. Dr Peter Kitchen: New GP practice in the Granton area
  3. Member updates – 1 to 2 minutes each
  4. AOB
  5. Date of next meeting

Kate Barrett

Development Worker – Community Planning, EVOC

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.

Community cash for Strollers

Civil Service Strollers Youth FC have secured a grant from the City of Edinburgh Council to purchase new training equipment. 

Forth and Almond Community Partnership allocated £1,249 to ensure the club can continue to deliver high quality coaching to over 120 local children each week.

Club Treasurer, Claire Kidd, said “We are very thankful to the council for this grant. With all clubs like ours fundraising is so important so that we can continue to keep our monthly costs to parents one of the lowest across the area. 

“This grant will be used to purchase much needed new equipment and will be well used by the youth section. I would like to thank the Council and in particular, Elaine Lennon, for her assistance and guidance.”

The Strollers Youth section offers weekly football sessions for children and young people aged 5-19.

If you would like to find our more about the club, email strollersyouth@csstrollers.com 

Labour launch North & Leith general election campaign

Scottish Labour and Co-operative party candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith, Gordon Munro, launched his campaign at The Prentice Centre in Granton Mains Avenue yesterday. 

The launch was attended by members, activists and supporters who then started out on the campaign trail, canvassing and speaking to local people about the issues that matter in this election (see below).   Continue reading Labour launch North & Leith general election campaign

Neighbourhood Partnerships, no more: now it’s Neighbourhood Networks

First meeting of new Forth Neighbourhood Network tomorrow

New Neighbourhood Networks are being set up across Edinburgh. They will bring together community groups, voluntary sector organisations and local councillors to identify what matters to their neighbourhood. Continue reading Neighbourhood Partnerships, no more: now it’s Neighbourhood Networks