Steeping Stones North Edinburgh
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Join us at Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre
Thursday 29 October 12:30pm
RSVP:
10 Wardieburn Road, Edinburgh
Telephone 551 1632
Email: info@steppingstonesnorthedinburgh.co.uk
Category: Granton
New arts initiative to launch in Granton
Lord Provost to open Made in Granton exhibition
![madelvic_office[1]](https://i0.wp.com/nen.press/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/madelvic_office1.jpg?ssl=1)
Council-owned property development and investment business The EDI Group (www.edigroup.co.uk) is to support support a new programme of arts initiatives based at Madelvic House in Granton (above).
The series of events organised by granton:hub@The Madelvic will officially launch this Saturday with the ‘Made in Granton’ exhibition, showcasing the history of the local area. Forth Neighbourhood Partnership is also supporting the exhibition.
Madelvic House will host a series of pop up events over the next six months organised by the granton:hub group. The focus of the initiative is to test out ideas in the community with the view to securing long term use of the building for a community arts hub.
If successful in receiving approval from EDI, the group propose to use the ground floor of the building to house a number of artists’ studios, café and a flexible space which will be used for events such as temporary exhibitions and workshops.
The programme launch and local history exhibition ‘Made in Granton’ is open to all and will take place on:
Saturday 24 October
11:00am to 2:30pm
at Madelvic House
More events to look forward to at Madelvic House include:
- 28 & 29 November: ‘Re:See It’ An art exhibition focuing on positive artistic perceptions on environmental sustainability and climate change, showcasing artists from St. Margaret’s House Studio’s and members of Creative Carbon Scotland/Green Arts Initiative Edinburgh.
- 19 December: ‘Lantern Storytelling’ Display of lanterns made by local schoolchildren with Janis Hart.
- 30 January 2016: ‘The Embassy Cinema’ Film screening in conjunction with Screen Education Edinburgh and Take one Action to show a series of short films.
- 27 February: ‘New Life from Old’ The event will include stalls selling upcycled products and workshops on repair/remaking goods from recycled materials.
- 25 – 27 March: ‘Art in Granton’ This event will promote Madelvic House as an exhibition and artist space.
Denise Havard, Community Development Manager at EDI, said “We are pleased to support the granton:hub and its programme of arts initiatives and we look forward to receiving their business plan outlining their proposals for future use of the building. Ensuring that community initiatives are supported in the area where EDI are working is key for our wider regeneration plans.”
Demand for a community art space in Granton was identified at an open day in May where local residents put forward their ideas for using Madelvic House. The granton:hub is a group of largely local residents of Granton and surrounding areas with a vision to create a community-led initiative using space at Madelvic House.
Louise Knight, spokesperson for the granton:hub, said: “We are very grateful for EDI’s support with our programme of events at Madelvic House. We’re really pleased that EDI shares our vision for community initiatives which bring people together and offering locally based activities.”
Madelvic House is located on Granton Park Avenue in Granton and was originally built as the offices of the Madelvic Carriage Company. The Madelvic Carriage Company Limited was formed in Edinburgh in 1898 producing electric vehicles and built the first purpose built car factory in Britain. The red sandstone, two storey building is currently owned by Waterfront Edinburgh Ltd and managed as a multi-let office space.
EDI is working with adjoining landowners to deliver a number of major developents as part of its regeneration of Granton, including a new Collections Facility for National Galleries, retail and leisure opportunities along with residential.
If you’d like to get involved with the granton:hub group, or you’d like to find out more, contact Louise Knight: louiseesknight@gmail.com
What can we do to make Scotland fairer?
There’s another opportunity to have your say on creating a fairer Scotland this week. Pilton Community Health Project will be hosting a session at their office on Boswall Parkway this Thursday from 10 – 11.30am.
All welcome – come along and share your views!
University Open Days at Edinburgh College
University advice at Granton Campus tomorrow
Edinburgh College will be hosting a series of university open days to give students, school pupils and members of the public the opportunity to find out which routes to university would be best for them.
Representatives from universities across Scotland will be on hand to provide advice on the courses they have to offer. The Scottish Institute of Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland will also be there to talk about the support they provide for students. There will also be a chance to talk to SAAS about funding options.
The university open days will take place at 11am-2pm at Edinburgh College’s Granton Campus (20 October), Milton Road Campus (21 October) and Sighthill Campus (22 October).
Attendees:
Granton: Tuesday 20 October. 11am-2pm.
University of Edinburgh, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University, University of Stirling, University of Dundee, Glasgow Caledonian University, SAAS, Scottish Institute of Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland.
Milton Road: Wednesday 21 October. 11am-2pm.
University of Edinburgh, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University, SAAS, Scottish Institute for Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland.
Sighthill: Thursday 22 October. 11am-2pm.
University of Edinburgh, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University, University of Stirling, University of Dundee, Glasgow Caledonian, Glasgow School of Art, Robert Gordon University, Abertay Dundee University, University of Aberdeen, SAAS, Scottish Institute for Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland.
Exhibition: Made in Granton
granton:hub at The Madelvic
Saturday 24 October, 11am – 2.30pm
Pleased as punch: plumbing apprentices pick up industry awards
Plumbing apprentices from Edinburgh College proved they have bright careers in the pipeline by winning prizes at the trade’s professional body annual awards.
Four apprentices received awards from the Scottish & Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) for excellent performance in college and the workplace. The students are each completing four-year modern apprenticeships with the college’s Construction department.
SNIPEF’s Edinburgh and District Branch gave awards to the best student in each of the first three years of the modern apprenticeship, and to the best improved apprentice. The event celebrated the achievements of apprentices from Edinburgh, Borders and Forth Valley colleges.
The awards for Edinburgh College apprentices were:
- Best 1st Year apprentice Kyle Rodger, T Clarke
- Best 2nd Year apprentice James Redpath, JSB
- Best 3rd Year apprentice Rory Watt, H&C Mechanical Services Ltd
- Best Improved apprentice Graeme McKenzie, CHC Group Ltd
Rory Watt was also runner up for the David More Trophy, which is awarded to the best over-all apprentice in the region and went to Martyn Smith from Forth Valley College.
Andrew Golightly, decorating, plastering and plumbing lecturer at Edinburgh College, said: “These apprentices represent the best we have at the college. They have proven to be excellent in their training, shown their commitment and become great plumbers and we are delighted that they are being recognised for that by SNIPEF Edinburgh and District Branch.
“Two of the award winners originally came to the college to complete a pre-apprenticeship course, and their awards tonight prove their commitment to learning and hard work.”
The 19 week pre-apprenticeship course provides a grounding in basic installation and servicing principles, an insight into the working environment, and a head start on the competition when applying for fulltime modern apprenticeship schemes. Plumbing students at Edinburgh College are able to use state of the art training facilities at the college’s Granton and Midlothian campuses to learn the essential skills they need to progress in the workplace.
The awards ceremony took place at Edinburgh College’s Granton Campus training restaurant, The Apprentice, with catering provided by professional cookery students.
PICTURE: Standing: Lecturer Andrew Golightly, Head of Construction John Laing, apprentices Kyle Rodger and Rory Watt, and curriculum manager Juliet Harkin. Front row: apprentices James Redpath and Graeme McKenzie.
Credit Union merger: Special General Meeting on Thursday
North Edinburgh Credit Union announces merger plan
North Edinburgh Credit Union is to merge with Castle Credit Union and Water of Leith CU, doubling the existing membership and giving the new organisation a stronger financial base.
In a letter to members, North Edinburgh Credit Union Chair Ron Carthy explained: “The Board of North Edinburgh Credit Union is committed to maintaining a strong CU presence in North Edinbyrgh and to offer the range of services our members expect. Therefore, the Board has agreed to merge with Castle Cedit Union and the Water of Leith CU study group as a major step in this process. This wiill not only double the size of our existing member base but also gives us a stronger financial base upon which to expand and sustain a viable credit union.
He continues: “The new Head Office for the merged credit union will be in our exisiting office in Wardieburn Drive. As part of our palans for the new merged credit union we will extending (sic) our opening times and be introducing access 24/7 via a new website for members to check balances, apply for loans and see how their savings are growing. We will also be offering a wider range of savings and loan products.”
NECU is holding a meeting at the Wardieburn office this Thurday at 6.30pm (business starts 7pm) to share information about the ‘exciting new plans’. All members welcome.
For further information call 0131 466 5006
or email committee@necu.co.uk
Granton on Sea seeks community support for Lottery bid
A Way Forward for Community Regeneration?
A local project which hopes to oversee the regeneration of Granton’s waterfront is asking the local community to support a bid for Lottery funding.
Granton Improvement Society says, if successful, a lottery grant would be used to stage art work for a garden festival, employ a member of staff and take regeneration plans on to the next stage.
Granton Improvement Society administrator Ross McEwan explained: “GIS was invited to make an application to the BIG Lottery Peoples Project for an award of £50,000. The process involves joining the community blog that they had set up – we had to write a 500 word submission on the blog page together with three images.
“The shortlisting process will take into consideration comments made on the blog, so we are asking members to please make comments in as positive a way as possible, especially about what huge benefits would come to the community from the income generated and from the major new facilities in the area.”
In ‘Granton on Sea – A Way Forward for Community Regeneration’, their submission to the webpage, GIS say:
‘We held several public events with guest speakers, this has increased the membership from local people considerably and means the GIS is now the largest membership organisation in the area.
‘A new exhibition of the current project proposals and promotional material have proved to be a great success especially when attending events and for getting the project more visible in the local community and with City Councillors.
All of these new initiatives have helped in being commissioned by Scottish Government Regeneration Unit and DTAS/COSS to undertake an Asset Mapping exercise over the whole area we have chosen to work within.
The project will allow us to find out what the physical and social assets are of the area. As part of this we will identify the wider community need and aspirations, this information will lead to a community plan and strengthen the communities
Since the Granton Improvement Society was established in January 2013 the membership from local residents has gradually risen to just under 200, The management committee of 11 trustees is comprised of seven local residents and four who are just on the boundary of the EH4 & EH5 area that we have chosen to operate within.
If we were successful the new money would take the project to a stage where we would do small art interventions related to the garden festival in underused derelict green space, the focus of which is creative design, all will be for the community to undertake. We will show the health and wellbeing benefits of the outdoors and creative process.
As part of the new exhibition we have taken the design proposals to another more detailed stage in preparation for a future planning application in doing so it has brought the landowner to the table to negotiate the sale of the land.
New money would allow us to commission architects and energy consultants to explore the sustainability and environmental impact of the project. A model of the project will be commissioned something which is more accessible than architectural drawings. A more detailed financial impact study should prove the community benefit of the project locally and nationally.
A Social Hub: reaching out to a wider community base.
Sea containers will be bought and converted using local people gaining construction skills, this would be the studio space for the GIS, the local community could come and interact with the project and talk about needs and aspirations. This will inform the project.
It will allow us for the first time to employ a dedicated project worker and not rely upon volunteers all of the time, local people will gain skills, training and education.
More community events would be organised, creating greater community involvement and a more cohesive and resilient community.
All of these bigger initiatives will create a sense of community ownership, pride and care for the future when the project is realised. It will be owned by the community through large community consultation and participation.’
To make a comment on the Granton submission, go to
Ross added: “Go to top right of page ‘Not a member yet?’ and join. Just follow the instructions. After registering you are directed to a Welcome page. Go to the heading The Peoples’s Projects. On this page go to Search Blogs by ITV region – we are in STV East.
“Our blog is the fifth one in the list. Open the blog and and join the group at top right of the page then you should be able to begin commenting at the end of the blog in the comments box. We want as many of you as possible to do this!”
Six of the best for College students!
Graphics students learn from the best in new Edinburgh College design partnership
Some of the city’s top design agencies have teamed up with Edinburgh College to show students the inner workings of the industry and help them become the next professional stars.
Six design agencies have signed up to a new partnership scheme with the college to give graphic design students industry experience and insight while they are still studying. Mentors from the agencies will coach students over the next year, giving them work placements, setting them briefs and advising on projects including work for real clients.
The agencies – Whitespace; Blonde; Teviot; Union Direct; Equator; and LEWIS – will in turn get access to the best graduates, working with them to ensure their skills and knowledge meet the needs of the industry and support its growth.
The new partnership builds on the success of the HND Visual Communication: Graphic Design course’s existing mentorship programme, which has been pairing students with mentors for the last seven years and now works with 13 agencies. The six agencies now signed up as official partners will provide further opportunities over and above mentoring so students can experience all sides of the industry, as well as sponsoring the students’ end-of-year show.
The project launched with an event at the college’s Granton Campus, where students got to meet their mentors for the first time.
Graphic design lecturer Helena Good said: “Bringing the design agencies on board as partners will be great for the students as it gives them new ways of getting the knowledge about the industry that they’ll need when they enter the workplace. Having access to professionals working to incredibly high standards in the latest practices, including digital, and getting their honest feedback and guidance is invaluable to their development.
“The mentoring project we started seven years ago has really taken off, and we’re lucky to have so many great companies so keen to be involved. Formalising these partnerships is a natural step and really embeds this project and the students themselves firmly within the city’s design community.”
As well as allotted time with mentors throughout the year, some partners will provide up to a month’s worth of work experience placements. They will also each set groups of students one-day ‘guerilla’ design projects, where mentors will turn up unannounced in the morning and set a design challenge to be completed in a day. Mentors also help students work on intensive one-week design projects working on real briefs from real clients, which in previous years have included Innis & Gunn, Edinburgh Zoo and GF Smith.
One of the mentors at partner Teviot, Kirsten Murray, who studied the HND at the college and graduated in 2007, said: “Whatever stage you are at in your education or career, having a mentor to support you, challenge you and ask you hard questions is invaluable. I have watched the mentoring programme go from strength to strength over the last five years. The success of the programme is clear when you see the quality of the ideas and the design work being produced by the students.
“As a former student of Edinburgh College, it means a lot to me to be able to give something back to the very place that kick started my career in design. The future of design in Scotland will soon be in the hands of these students. That’s why it’s so important that we help them to become industry-ready graduates.”
Student Alex De Sousa, 18, from Bonnyrigg, said: “This doesn’t happen anywhere else and it’s really exciting. It’s incredible that we get to spend time one to one with people with such great experience and it’s such a good opportunity.”
Gillian Grant, an account director at LEWIS, said: “The more you work with and get to know the students the more you can see that they are hungry to learn in all areas. There’s lots they can learn from an account management and project management perspective to complement the creative side and help them understand all sides of the industry. You can offer process-driven advice and recommendations on pitching, and demonstrate how all areas of an agency work together to achieve a goal.”
Check out MY Adventure’s new blog
Hi all,
Getting the story of MY Adventure out is important, so I have put together an introductory blog! More to follow from the whole MY Adventure team so keep an eye on it!
Go to
http://www.myadventure.org.uk/welcome-to-my-adventure/
All the best,
James Howell, Director