A student from Granton is set to travel to Birmingham to show off her talent as a gym instructor to more than 70,000 spectators at the nation’s largest skills and careers event. Sam Laird has been selected to represent City of Glasgow College in the Gym Instructor category at The Skills Show 2016 and is hoping to bring home a medal and advance to the finals of WorldSkills, a competition dubbed ‘the skills Olympics’. Continue reading Granton’s Sam to showcase her skills
Housing and care services are in crisis. Can local community co-operatives help to meet local needs?
These are questions for a ‘radical’ new community project in Edinburgh Northern and Leith. Side by Side aims to explore how we can learn from each other and work together to create positive practical change in our local neighbourhood.
Housing, environment and care of the young and elderly were the top concerns to emerge from two community Open Space events in the last 12 months. The first event identified the needs; the second came up with bold ideas to fill gaps in local services – including housing and childcare co-operatives
Now Side by Side aims to take the next step with The Gathering, at Norton Park Conference Centre on Saturday 3 December. And this time the event will start by celebrating the successes and achievements of local groups who are already changing lives.
‘Through our events we discovered fantastic creative enterprises in Edinburgh Northern and Leith,’ says Fay Young, one of the organisers, ‘But not everyone knows about them. We hope to learn from each other to build on what is here already and generate new ideas to enhance quality of life in our area.’
Keynote speaker Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, will set the tone of an event which seeks to ‘share best practice and build on local achievements’. A panel of experts from Pilton Community Health Project, Port of Leith Housing Association, Shrub Swap and Reuse Hub and North Edinburgh Childcare will also provide first hand accounts of successful community enterprises and projects.
Workshop discussions and outcomes will be led and decided by the audience and facilitated by Judith Chivers. Proposals put forward by The Gathering will contribute to a community manifesto for our neighbourhood in time for the local authority elections in May 2017.
Side by Side has grown from two Open Space community discussion events hosted by Councillor Lesley Hinds, in December 2015 and April 2016. Local organisations and residents were invited to explore how we might make use of new powers coming to the Scottish Parliament to improve life in our part of Edinburgh.
Councillor Hinds who is standing down after 33 years on City of Edinburgh Council said: ‘I promised to turn words into action and that is what The Gathering aims to do. My colleagues will ensure this is taken forward”.
Side by Side is a community project open to all. The Gathering will be introduced and hosted by Labour Councillors for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, and is supported by Leith Open Space, an intercultural community discussion group formed in 2005.
Edinburgh based Selah Corbin, a cinematic songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose work has been likened to “paintings that come alive” will provide the music and a light lunch of delicious food from Punjabi Junction will be served.
To take part, book now on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/side-by-side-edinburgh-northern-and-leith-gathering-tickets-28336222404?aff=es2
and follow Facebook.com/SBSGathering and http://www.edinburghlabournorthernandleith.org.uk/ for updates.
For further information please contact Marion Donaldson councillormariondonaldson@gmail.com
Saturday 26 November 10 – 12 noon Granton Parish Church
Edinburgh arts patron Professor Richard Demarco has opened an exhibition of his work charting his collaboration with German legend Joseph Beuys, at Edinburgh College. The project aims to benefit art and design students at the college by giving them insight into the collaborative processes between top artists.
Continue reading Demarco exhibition opens at Granton Campus
City of Edinburgh Council tenants’ views are being sought on the Housing Service’s five year improvement plan and 2017/18 budget.
Muirhouse and Granton libraries held an event with Lorna Liverpool, author of the wonderful children’s book ‘A Dance to Remember’ on Monday. The event is part of the libraries’ celebration of Black History Month which began on the 1st of October and runs until the end of the month.
Lorna demonstrated African drumming and performed stories with arts and crafts for local primary school children – giving everyone a great opportunity to learn about the African drum’s significance in African culture, and of course to make some noise!
The children were joined by the local Living in Harmony group for Lorna’s session, making it a day to remember for all at Muirhouse Library.
Thanks to Declan McCann, team leader at Muirhouse Library, for the pictures
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRbZXUGToNg
Continue reading Lorna drums up a day to remember at Muirhouse Library
Successful projects that have helped people cope with issues such as debt, mortgage worries and benefit problems will continue thanks to £6 million of funding. Among those succesful projects is Granton Information Centre, who increased one client’s household income by a staggering £15,000. Continue reading Easing the burden: funding extension for ‘crucial’ advice services
Arcadeum’s Collector exhibition opened on Saturday afternoon at Whitespace Gallery on East Crosscauseway – and the exhibition has already attracted over one hundred visitors!
The fascinating exhibition features the personal collections of twenty residents and local workers from North Edinburgh and includes collections of model buses, spoons, toysoldiers, John Wayne memorabilia and more …
The exhibition runs until Thursday and is open daily from 11am – 6pm – and it’s free. Don’t miss it!
More info at Facebook – Arcadeum Collectors Project and www.arcadeum.org/projects
Six men have been charged as part of a police crackdown on motorbike theft and anti-social behaviour in North Edinburgh. Four bikes were recovered during police operations on Wednesday and Thursday. Continue reading Six arrests and one jailed in motorbike clampdown
