Edinburgh Multicultural Festival goes on tour! This fall we will be visiting libraries in the Edinburgh North neighbourhoods with our featured artists.
On Saturday, 19 October, Granton Library will be hosting ahalya Dance Academy who will bring a South Asian cultural dance performance and workshop for all ages.
Ahalya Dance Academy, an Edinburgh based dance school specialising in the ancient Indian art form of Bharatanatyam. Their vision is to bring the rich tradition of Bharatanatyam to diverse communities and provide a platform for aspiring dancers to learn and grow.
This event is free but ticketed, so make sure you register with us ahead of the event!
A Granton church is this week marking 90 years since, on Monday 22nd October 1934, the foundation stone was laid by the Duke of York (later King George VI).
Under the foundation stone there is a cavity holding a casket containing ‘The Scotsman’, ‘Life and Work’, extension scheme documents, architect’s description of the Church Buildings, a list of contractors, the name of surveyor and Clerk of Works, note of the cost of building and a copy of the programme used at the ceremony when the foundation stone was placed in position.
The move from the old Granton Parish Church building at the foot of Granton Road up to Boswall Parkway was seen as an opportunity to be closer to the new housing schemes of Wardieburn, East Pilton, Royston and Boswall, and the new church was opened in February 1936.
The church has been serving that new community ever since. Today’s work now includes lunches, coffee mornings, Friday drop-ins, and the hugely popular Share ‘n’ Wear service.
For more details, including an archive film of the Duke of York’s visit, go to the church’s website at grantonchurch.org.uk.
Multi-Cultural Family Base(MCFB) is delighted to invite you to a dance performance on October 10th between 7 and 9 pm.
This event is the official launch of our programming for the Edinburgh 900 commemorations, entitled “Roots for Routes”. The concept behind this name is that through celebrating and honouring heritage and culture, we find ways to grow towards the future.
Some of our young people from the MCFBards are collaborating with the PASS performance group to create a full length piece based on their poetry.
Please see the attached invitation. If you are able to attend, please follow this link to our Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.com/Roots4Routes
We hope you are able to join us for this evening of art and celebration!
Two male youths, aged 13 and 14, have been charged in connection with a fire in Edinburgh. The incident happened around 5.15pm on Monday, 23 September, 2024 on West Granton Road.
A report will be submitted to the relevant authority.
This includes 96 homes for social rent by Harbour Homes and 130 properties for mid market rent by Harbour Lettings. The remaining 80 properties are social rent homes provided by Cairn Housing Association.
A seven-bedroom independent living home and office space with an adjoining one-bedroom flat has also been opened by Dean and Cauvin Young People’s Trust to support people in the care system.
Dean and Cauvin provide accommodation for young people (from ages 15-21) as well as supporting their transition to living independently.
Following an event for new tenants to meet each other and find out more about what’s happening in the community, Heather Kiteley, Chief Executive of Harbour Homes, said: “Everyone at Harbour is very proud of the many years of hard work and dedication which has gone into creating these fantastic new homes.
“With brilliant communal gardens and courtyards, breath-taking views over the Firth of Forth and great public transport links to the city, I know our tenants will be happy in their new homes and will play a part in the new communities which are flourishing along Granton’s waterfront.
“It was a joy to work with Cairn and other partners to make this ambitious project a reality.”
Audrey Simpson, Cairn’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with Harbour Homes and other key stakeholders to bring much-needed affordable housing to Granton.
“These new homes are a testament to what can be achieved when organisations work together with a shared vision. Thanks to Harbour Homes and to everyone involved for their dedication and hard work. We are confident that our new tenants will thrive in this vibrant community.”
Councillor Jane Meagher, Edinburgh’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Edinburgh’s council housing stock was devastated by the Right to Buy policy meaning only 14% of homes in our city today are social housing, compared to a Scottish average of 23%.
“We desperately need to work on reversing this trend as we work with developers and social landlords to tackle our city’s Housing Emergency.
“At Granton Harbour, there has been an impressive effort to create over 300 new affordable homes in total, almost 60% of which will be for social rent. Hundreds of people are now moving into good quality and genuinely affordable housing as a result, which is well worth celebrating”
Students! The College’s Professional Cookery and Hospitality department are hosting a coffee morning in the Apprentice Restaurant at Granton Campus on Wednesday 2 October.
You are invited to come along from 10.30am-11.30am to grab a coffee and a cake for just £2.50.
Social Bite has submitted Planning Application to move Edinburgh Village to new waterfront location in Granton
The application lays out plans to continue the essential support the charity provides to those experiencing homelessness
Social Bite, renowned for its groundbreaking efforts to combat homelessness, has submitted a planning application to relocate its Edinburgh Social Bite Village to a picturesque spot north of West Shore Road on the Granton Waterfront. If approved, the move is scheduled to take place from early 2025.
The plans for the relocation, made in consultation with charity partner Cyrenians, will ensure up to 16 residents, at any one time, who have experienced homelessness will continue to enjoy a stable and supported communal way of living with the bonus of extensive views of The Forth Bridges across the water – a sight many former and current villagers have grown fond of.
The new location would bring with it a refresh of the Hub, the communal area for villagers to cook, gather and relax. Additionally, the new location will see the phased introduction of seven new one-bedroom ‘Nest Houses’ which have been re-designed and improved, following resident feedback.
Social Bite and charity partner Cyrenians, a homelessness prevention organisation which has managed the village since its inception in 2018, have worked closely to ensure all relocation plans provide a smooth transition for current residents. Feedback from residents has also informed the choice of location.
The new site is less than a mile along the road and has been chosen as a great new location after the resident survey revealed the local amenities and greenspace in the area were important to those living there, allowing them to fulfil their daily tasks such as shopping and going to work, as well proximity to the charming Granton seaside.
The decision to relocate from the current area in Granton has been prompted by the planned end of the current contract for the land, donated by Edinburgh City Council, with the current location forming part of phase one of the Granton Waterfront development plans.
The lease-term was originally for four years and later extended by two additional years. The pre-fabricated houses were designed in a way that they can be easily relocated, enabling the charity to make use of a ‘meanwhile site,’ which would otherwise have been unoccupied.
This was a key part of Social Bite’s innovative approach.
Josh Littlejohn MBE, founder of Social Bite, said: “The security and happiness of our residents always comes first, so we’ve worked with those living at the village and the Cyrenians to make sure they feel assured and have a chance to voice what they want and need from any move we make.
“The new site we’re entering an application for is a combination of all the best bits from our current position in Granton, with added greenspace, sea views and the introduction of some newly designed Nest Houses to meet our resident’s needs.
“The village is an important part of the North Edinburgh community and will continue to be a vibrant asset to that part of the city. We’re hopeful that our planning application is approved, and we can move forward quickly for the sake of the people who we provide accommodation for.”
Ewan Aitken, Chief Executive of Cyrenians, said: “Edinburgh is facing an acute shortage of supported housing for people experiencing homelessness.
“We are absolutely committed to working with the local authority to secure a new site which will allow us to continue to offer relationship-based support that makes a lasting difference to people facing homelessness in Edinburgh.”
The success of the Edinburgh Village serves as a blueprint for other similar projects planned by the charity. Its design offers those living in unsupported temporary accommodations, shelters, or B&Bs, and in need of help to break the cycle of homelessness, a safe and supportive community to be a part of.
At the end of their time at the village, residents are supported in transitioning to permanent accommodation and employment. So far, the Edinburgh Village has helped over 100 residents, many of whom have gone on to secure employment and move into their own permanent homes.
For more information on the Edinburgh Village, visit:
