Free beginners food growing course starting soon!
Growing food in Granton
Category: Granton
Time for Change
Time for Change Project
We have received funding from the management committee of Royston Wardieburn community centre to offer some one to one activities to local folk in North West Edinburgh, who might be struggling a bit as we ease out of lockdown.
The aim is to support people engage/re-engage with the many social and learning opportunities on offer in North Edinburgh.
As you know, it’s not going to be easy for many people to take the first step – it never is. However, the impact of lockdown is likely to have magnified people’s concerns and anxieties about getting involved in something new.
Many people may be feeling a bit anxious about what life is going to look like in the coming months and the challenges that lie ahead. Some people may struggle physically due to the loss of mobility during last year and might need a bit of support to get out and about safely again.
One to One Activities
We’ve put together a programme of one to one activities which we hope will address these issues and we will adapt the programme to reflect people’s interests. The programme includes supported local walks, visits to places of interests such as community gardens and galleries and museums.
We are also planning to offer individuals the opportunity to work on their digital, literacy or language skills in a local café once the restrictions are lifted. For some people just meeting up with someone in a public space for a coffee and a chat will be sufficient.
Working together
We would be really grateful for your help and support with this project.
1. Can you send us information about any activities you are planning?
2. Can you could let us know if you have a space that we might be able to use for meet ups (inside and outside)?
We would also be grateful if you could help to promote the project by displaying our leaflets (which will be dropped off next week) in a public space and if you could pass on the information to anyone you know who you think might benefit from the project.
We are aiming to work with people who have been particularly badly affected by lockdown, particularly those who might have been shielding due to health conditions but also people from the BAME community and people who might be struggling with their mental health or finding it difficult to get out due to mobility issues.
If you know someone who might be interested, please let us know how best to get in touch with them.
Please get in touch if you want to know more about the Time for Change Project or if you would like to become involved in some way.
We look forward to hearing from you.
With very best wishes
Lynn, Lorrane and Neil.
Tonight: Edinburgh Northern & Leith online hustings
Virtual event organised by Leith Churches Together: Monday 26th April 7 – 8pm
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.
Police appeal following North Edinburgh road incident
Police are appealing for information following a road traffic incident in the north west Edinburgh.
The incident happened at around 11am yesterday (Tuesday, 30th March), when a sliver Mercedes and black BMW were travelling at high speeds between Telford Road and Ferry Road at the junction with Granton Road.
Detective Sergeant Rory Legge said: “The incident took place in broad daylight on a busy stretch of road and we are asking members of the public to come forward with any information they may have.
“If you were in the area at the time and witnessed these vehicles, or have any dashcam or mobile phone footage that could assist with our investigation, I would urge you to contact police.
“Police can be contacted by calling 101 and quoting incident number 1017 of Tuesday, 30th March, 2021.”
Morrisons to donate 100,000 chocolate eggs to familes this Easter
– The eggs will be distributed to local food banks, schools and community groups via Morrisons Community Champions –
– Morrisons customers can also donate Easter Eggs in-store –
Morrisons has announced it will be donating 100,000 chocolate eggs to those in need in the run up to the Easter weekend.
Morrisons Community Champions at all stores nationwide will be working with local food banks, schools and community groups to distribute the Easter treats to individuals and families who would benefit most.
Each of Morrisons 497 stores will receive a dedicated delivery of more than 200 Easter eggs, including household favourites Smarties and Creme Egg, which will be set aside, ready to donate.
Customers also have the opportunity to get involved as Morrisons is setting up ‘Easter Egg Donation Stations’ in every store where customers can drop off additional eggs they have purchased.
The supermarket wants to raise the spirits of the nation and spread some hope and joy across local communities as lockdown restrictions are set to be eased by the government this week.
Rebecca Singleton, Customer & Community Director at Morrisons said: “We know that celebratory occasions can come at an additional cost to families, but we want to make sure that no-one goes without Easter eggs this year.
“Across the UK we’ll be donating 100,000 eggs to local communities where they are needed most.”
The Easter egg giveaway is part of Morrisons £5 million drive to keep the nation’s food banks stocked by manufacturing additional products which are then donated directly to local communities.
The £5 million donation, announced in January, adds to the £10 million worth of food that Morrisons donated in 2020.
For more information visit www.morrisons.co.uk
British Gas set to hit 38 days of strikes as employer refuses to remove ‘Fire And Rehire’
Over a thousand British Gas workers across Scotland will walk out again tomorrow (Friday 19 March) for strike days thirty-five, thirty-six, thirty-seven and thirty-eight, as the fight continues against their CEO Chris O’Shea’s shameful ‘fire and rehire’ imposition.
Engineers will walk out from 00.01 hours on Friday 19 March until 21.59 hours on Monday 22 March, and again on Friday 26 March to Monday 29 March, taking the total number of strike days in the dispute to forty-two.
Socially distanced picket lines will be in operation tomorrow morning at British Gas facilities in Edinburgh and Uddingston.
The latest wave of strikes was confirmed after workers across the UK voted by a resounding majority of four-to-one against proposals tabled through ACAS over the future of their terms and conditions, with Centrica refusing to lift the ‘fire and rehire’ imposition.
British Gas are set to issue dismissal notices on Monday 29 March to staff who refuse to accept the ‘fire and rehire’ imposition.
After thirty-four days of previous strike action, GMB understands that more than 250,000 homes across the UK are in a backlog for repairs and 350,000 planned annual service visits have been axed.
GMB Scotland Senior Organiser Hazel Nolan said: “British Gas is set to sack key workers if they do not accept Chris O’Shea’s ‘fire and rehire’ imposition – it’s a shameful way for any employer to behave let alone a great British industrial institution.
“Left unchallenged it also sets a dangerous precedent, where even the biggest employers can exploit a public health crisis to attack workers’ rights, and their terms and conditions of employment. That’s not modernisation, it’s Dickensian.
“But the message from our determined and dignified members is loud and clear: Stop the fire and rehire in British Gas, and let’s return to proper negotiations over the future of this business and its workers.”
Morrisons slash Easter egg prices and launch Spring bakery range
– Popular Easter eggs including Mini Egg and Maltesers will be available to buy this weekend for just 75p –
– Spring bakery products launch, with prices starting from just 10p –
– Products include mini egg doughnuts and mocha hot cross buns, with customers sharing on social and commenting “these are a NEED” –
Morrisons has slashed the price of popular Easter eggs to just 75p this weekend.
From Friday to Sunday, customers will be able to pick up favourites such as Cadbury Mini Egg, Maltesers and Aero Bubbles Medium Eggs in stores at great reductions.
The full list of Easter eggs being reduced to 75p is:
| Product | Original price | Saving |
| Cadbury Mini Egg Medium Easter Egg | £1.50 | 75p |
| Cadbury Creme Egg Medium Easter Egg | £1.50 | 75p |
| Cadbury Chocolate Buttons Egg | £1.50 | 75p |
| Smarties Medium Easter Egg | 99p | 24p |
| Rolo Milk Chocolate & Caramel Medium Easter Egg | 99p | 24p |
| Maltesers Medium Easter Egg | 99p | 24p |
| Aero Bubbles Milk Chocolate Medium Easter Egg | 99p | 24p |
| Mars Medium Easter Egg | £1.50 | 75p |
| Kinnerton Paddington Egg & Bar | 99p | 24p |
And if that’s not enough to get into the Easter spirit, Morrisons has also just dropped its spring bakery range, including mocha hot cross buns, lemon doughnuts and mini egg doughnuts.
With prices starting from just 50p these deals are worth hopping over to Morrisons bakery counter for!
Morrisons are famous for their doughnuts with customers previously going wild for salted caramel, gingerbread and fruit salad flavours.
Morrisons Easter additions are set to be just as popular and customers have been quick to take to social media to express their excitement saying, “these are a NEED”, “Morrisons strikes again” and “where’s the nearest Morrisons?”.
Morrisons Lemon Doughnuts are available in packs of 5 for 50p – just 10p each. Freshly prepared in-store and hand-filled with lemon curd by Morrisons craft bakers, these doughnuts are the perfect spring treat.
The supermarket has also launched new Mini Egg Easter Doughnuts which come in packs for three for £1.50. These luxury chocolate iced doughnuts are filled with a smooth chocolate filling, topped with chocolate icing and chocolate eggs, ideal to satisfy sweet cravings ahead of the Easter weekend.
Freshly baked in-store, Morrisons has also brought back its popular Mocha Hot Cross Buns for Easter – just £1 for 4. The sweet coffee-flavour buns are filled with dark chocolate chips and best served with butter and a hot coffee.
Jane Holmes, Product Development Manager at Morrisons said: “We’re so excited to see our new bakery products getting so much love on social media. We hope that they will add a spring to our customers steps in the run up to Easter.”
Morrisons spring bakery range is available in-stores nationwide now.
Citizen sessions start next week
Social Bite launches Break the Cycle campaign
- Social Bite announce plans to build two new Villages, with target sites in Glasgow and London
- Olympic hero backing “Break the Cycle” campaign to raise £1m to help fund two new villages, Sir Chris will cycle 60-mile route from Glasgow to Edinburgh with 1,000 fellow riders to raise money for the cause
- Edinburgh Village project has helped 39 people since July 2018 with 79% saying the village has helped improve their wellbeing
Social Bite, with the support of Sir Chris Hoy, has today announced its latest fundraising campaign Break the Cycle – a 60 mile charity bike ride which aims to raise £1m to help build Social Bite Villages in two new UK cities, with target locations in Glasgow and London.
The Break the Cycle event will take place on Sunday 5th September, with Sir Chris joining 1,000 fellow cyclists as they set off from the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow and pedal the 60 miles through to the finish line in Edinburgh, near the flagship Social Bite village in Granton.
Each participant will be asked to raise £1,000 in order to take part and ride alongside the six-time Olympic Champion, contributing to the overall fundraising target. All entrants will also have access to some incredible prizes, from naming a house at one of the villages to winning a signed medal from Sir Chris Hoy himself.
As well as the physical event in September, the fundraising campaign is open to all levels of fitness and ability, with people across the UK invited to take part in their own virtual challenges from March to September to raise money and help Social Bite break the cycle of homelessness.
Friends, families, workplace teams and schools are all encouraged to pick a challenge and get sponsored for doing it. Whether it’s a 60-mile challenge or 60 minutes of exercise, the virtual challenge can be designed to fit what suits people best.
Money raised both on event day and in the lead up through virtual challenges will go towards creating the two highly supported communities with the pro bono help of engineering firm Arup.
The communities will offer a supportive community environment and opportunities to help people affected by homelessness build an independent life.
The goal of the Social Bite Villages is to provide a different blueprint for how we, as a society, respond to homelessness and temporary accommodation – one which puts support and the individual at the centre of the approach.
The village concept is supported by Dame Louise Casey, the former Westminster homelessness tsar who led the work with helping 33,000 people into emergency housing during the pandemic.
Since launching in May 2018, the Social Bite Village in partnership with Cyrenians has provided accommodation and support to 39 residents, helping them find their feet and permanent homes. 82% of people who have lived at the Village are either still happily housed there or have moved onto a positive destination.
10% of funds raised from the event will also be donated to SAMH, the Scottish Association for Mental Health and further funds will be invested in Social Bite’s mission to Break the Cycle of homelessness by providing food, employment opportunities, and housing projects.
Josh Littlejohn MBE, CEO and Co-Founder of Social Bite, said: “It’s an honour for us to have one of the country’s biggest sporting heroes support us in our effort to build two new villages for people in a situation of homelessness.
“Sir Chris has been an advocate of the work we do for some time and when we came up with the Break the Cycle concept, we knew there was only one person we wanted to partner with.
“We’re incredibly passionate about our plans for the Social Bite villages. Since opening the first one in Edinburgh, 39 people have been helped with a home and support through the project. Now that we have seen that the model is working, our ambition is to build more in cities across the country and I’m thrilled to announce that this is our intention in London and Glasgow.
“The money we manage to raise from our Break the Cycle fundraising campaign will allow these plans to become a reality and enable us to develop communities that will have a transformative impact on people’s lives. We’re very grateful to all our supporters, including M&G plc who have already signed up as a major partner.”
Sir Chris Hoy said: “I have supported Social Bite by sleeping under the stars each year at their mass participation sleepout events for the last four years. I have seen the impact of the funds raised and I am passionate about supporting the bold approach to breaking the cycle of homelessness.
“I know times have been incredibly tough of late but I’d encourage everyone to get involved and help raise the funds needed for this extraordinary project and take on their own challenges over the coming weeks and months. I look forward to see those taking part at the starting line …”
Steven McKechnie, Director at Arup, said: “Our society can be a challenging place for those who don’t fit neatly into its expectations and norms. Social Bite’s ‘villages’ provide a route into society for some of those people.
“They provide support and shelter and enable the growth of self-worth. They help people to learn how to start growing their roots. They are more than just a room for the night. They are beautiful and homely. They have a sense of place and delight that feeds the soul.
“We, in Arup, are tremendously proud to have been asked to help with this magnificent project. We will be contributing ideas and design thinking and will be connecting with our contacts in local authorities, development firms and public bodies to help to select suitable sites. We hope our contribution will be helpful.”
Jim McBride, Head of Homelessness at Glasgow Council, said: “Glasgow HSCP would welcome early discussions with Social Bite to determine how this innovative approach could contribute to the work the city is undertaking to address homelessness and supporting people who present with complex needs.”
To find our more or donate, please visit: breakthecycle.co.uk