Granton Castle garden group’s growing ideas

Lots of ideas to raise awareness this month, and a chance to push for the safeguarding of the walled garden at the City Chambers!

Our action group is feeling inspired by the enthusiasm of people hearing about this garden for the first time, and offers to help and support our community campaign: see below for draft meeting notes with some dates and events to look out for.

5th Feb 2015 Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden

Next Friends Group meeting provisionally on

Thursday 12th March, 6-7.30

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

Please send in any points or ideas for the agenda.

A wee image (above) inspired by the history research of Edinburgh’s gardens in the 1600’s.

Kirsty Sutherland, Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden

Work to start on Foot of the Walk junction

The next phase of the Leith Programme is due to get under way on Monday (16 February), focusing on upgrading the junction at the Foot of the Walk.

Contractors MacLay Civil Engineering Ltd, who are carrying out the project on the Council’s behalf, have begun preparing the site for the works, which are expected to take 15 weeks to complete.

Aimed at simplifying and improving the junction, the redesign will see four improved pedestrian crossings installed at the bottom of Leith Walk, Duke Street, Great Junction Street and Constitution Street.

Once fully operational the junction will allow pedestrians to cross more easily than at present, enhancing the overall accessibility of the area in line with the design principles of the Leith Programme.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “We’ve been delighted with the positive feedback we’ve had on how much the Leith Programme has already transformed the look and feel of Leith Walk and we know residents and businesses are keen to see the Foot of the Walk brought up to a similar standard.

“As always, every effort will be made to keep noise and disruption to an absolute minimum and we appreciate the public’s patience while this next phase of work is carried out.”

Traffic management arrangements have been drawn up in order to minimise disruption to traffic flow as far as possible. Constitution Street will be closed at its junction with Leith Walk for the duration of the works and local access to this area will be via Laurie Street, Queen Charlotte Street or Bernard Street.

Meanwhile, three-way temporary traffic lights will be in operation at the main Leith Walk junction to control traffic flow.

For details of the most up to date information regarding any bus diversions and traffic conditions affecting Leith Walk, members of the public are advised to keep an eye on Lothian Buses’ website or Twitter account as well as @edintravel.

Creative Leith collaborates on ‘Love Leith’ bruncheon

LEITH CREATIVE Project Launch

Saturday 14 February 2015, 11.30 – 3.00pm

It’s been a quiet start of the year for Citizen Curator but we are back this month with some interesting new collaborations …

In partnership with LeithLate we are launching Leith Creative at a very special ‘Love Leith’ Creative Bruncheon in conjunction with Out of Blue Drill Hall.

Leith Creative is a research project investigating the cultural resources and creative industries that make up the wider area. As part of this we have been talking to some of the creative hubs that inhabit Leith, but to find out more we want to hear from individual artists and organisations living, or working, in the area. What are the success you have had or challenges that you face?

To find out more …

Join us at the Drill Hall on Dalmeny Street for informal networking, where a host of family friendly Bruncheon treats will be available from the OOTB café, as well as live music from local Leith musicians, curated by William Douglas.

This is a free event but booking is appreciated.

If you can’t make it on the day, remember to fill out and share this online survey.

Also remember to check out our new Leith Creative facebook page for future events.

For further details contact

Citizen Curator

Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop

21 Hawthornvale, Edinburgh, EH6 4JT

44+(0)7812167130

info@citizencurator.com

www.citizencurator.com

‘like’ us on Facebook

Citizen Curator is a contemporary arts organisation working with the history and identity of Leith and North Edinburgh. This project is supported by Creative Scotland, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Leith Benevolent Society

Our Leith Creative logo, and soon to come interactive map, is by artist/designer David Lemm. David also has work on display at the Edinburgh Printmakers, until 7 March.

Local groups unite to say: NO CUTS!

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

Edinburgh Council is planning to cut millions from its budget over the next three years. These cuts will affect all our public services.

We say

NO CUTS

to our schools, nurseries, community centres, youth services, libraries, museums, social and day care services.

Join local groups and communities from across Edinburgh to save our services on budget day.

Thursday 12 February 2015

8.30 am – 9.45 am

City Chambers, High Street.

For transport to and from the Chambers call Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre on 552 5700.

Stop the cuts. Save our Services. Defend public sector jobs.

North Edinburgh is standing together and fighting back.

P2TP CUTS LEAFLET 2015 5

Womens International Group

Power to the People Group

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

Battling Spartans leave it late

… but the Hibs go marching on!

Ally MacKinnon is – The Equaliser!

Two Edinburgh teams will go into Monday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final draw – just. A late, late show at Ainslie Park saw Spartans strike deep into injury time to force a replay at Berwick, while Hibs safely negotiated a potential banana-skin when they comfortably saw off Arbroath at Easter Road. Shock of the round was Rangers tame surrender to Raith Rovers at Ibrox.

Spartans fell behind to an early Berwick goal and were often second-best during a stirring encounter played in front of a full house at Ainslie Park. Just as in the last round, however, the Lowland League saved the best ’til last. Deep into stoppage time Ally MacKinnon fired home a equaliser that sent the crowd into raptures and ensured wee Spartans live to fight another day. The replay will take place on Tuesday 17 February, and it will take another never-say-die performance to see the local lads progress.

Easter Road couldn’t match Ainslie Park for drama on Saturday, although Hibs did have to come from a goal down to dispose of fourth-tier league leaders Arbroath. A well-worked move saw Kieran Stewart open the scoring for the visitors, but Hibs fans’ nerves were soothed when Djedje equalised with a sweetly struck volley just before half-time.

Hibs continued to dominate after the break, although there was a lot of huffing and puffing to little effect. The introduction of McGeogh brought a sense of purpose to Hibs’ already dominant midfield, however, and it was no surprise when the Easter Road men immediately capitalised on their superiority.

Hibs’ second had more than a touch of good fortune about it – a Cummings shot that wasn’t going to trouble the ‘keeper took a wicked deflection off defender Liam Gordon on the hour mark – and the Easter Road men quickly followed up to seal their place in the quarter finals with a Dylan McGeoch strike in 68 minutes. More workmanlike than spectacular, this was a case of ‘job done’; sterner tests await.

It will be Rangers, however, that will make all the Monday headlines – but once again it will be for all the wrong reasons.

Just when you think it really can’t get any worse for Rangers, it gets worse. This Rangers ‘team’ – I use the term loosely – simply couldn’t match an honest Raith Rovers side for determination, energy, effort or endeavour. Barely 11,000 diehard Rangers fans turned up to watch the debacle – these are dreadful times indeed for a once-great club. It’s not funny anymore – even when the coup de grace, the final indignity, is delivered by the oft-ridiculed figure of fun that is Christian Nade.

After today’s showing, the Ibrox Board might consider relocating their Extraordinary General Meeting from the London’s sumptuous Dorchester Hotel to somewhere more fitting with their current status.

Suggestions welcome …

Elsewhere, there were few surprises. Hot favourites Celtic scored early and were never in any danger against Dundee, Falkirk beat Brechin 2-1 and Inverness CT edged a narrow victory at Partick Thistle. Result of the day was Championship side Queen of the South’s 2-0 victory over Scottish Cup holders St Johnstone with second half goals by Lyle (48) and Reilly (90). On Sunday, Dundee United made short work of Stranraer. Three up at half-time, the Tangerines coasted to an easy victory.

Darts supremo Gary Anderson will help make the draw for the quarter-finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup on Monday afternoon. The current PDC World Champion will be joined by the Scottish FA First Vice-President, Alan McRae and Joe McCallum from competition sponsors William Hill. The draw takes place at 2pm and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports News. You can also follow the draw on the @ScottishFA Twitter feed.

Teams going into the hat are:

Berwick Rangers or Spartans

Celtic

Dundee United

Falkirk

Hibernian

Inverness CT

Queen of the South

Raith Rovers

#StrongerNorth: Working together for the community

FACENorth is working for the community … in all weathers!

Over the last three months FACENorth (Focussing on Alternatives to Crime Edinburgh North), in partnership with POP (Preventative Opportunities Programme) have been working with a core group of eight to ten young people running a series of work parties at Towford Outdoor Centre, the bothy owned and managed by Muirhouse Youth Development Group and MYAdventure. As well as working at Towford the group has painted the café in PYCP and bag-packed at Sainsbury’s in Craigleith to raise money for MYDG.

This group of young people has been helping get Towford ready for use by the wider community whilst gaining real work experience, working as part of a team, following instructions, preparing and cooking their own meals, preparing a dinner table, washing up after themselves, showing respect for themselves, their environment and for others, planning and implementing ideas, conservation training, learning about their own and a new environment and most importantly putting something back into their own Community.

When we started, there was no heating or hot water in the bothy, few lights downstairs and very basic cooking facilities, so with some nights dropping to below freezing the warmth of sleeping bags at night with a meal and hot drink were very welcome!

So far the group has removed an unsafe, old mouldy shed which had stood unused for a number of years and turned the space left into to a temporary car parking space. They have also planted trees, removed old wood from around the site, cleared work areas, helped to create a temporary road surface at the entrance to the Centre, dug out trenches to create a drainage system to stop the access road from flooding, removed root systems around the trenches and carried out general labouring work.

With the Centre being surrounded by over 17 acres of ground including hills, forest and a large pond, the group intends to return to dig more trenches and create a proper road drainage system using underground pipes etc., create a new access road to the centre with an asphalt/concrete surface, clear an old deforested area to help create a football pitch/camp area, assist in the planning and creation of a bike and walking track, clear and drain the pond area and re-route part of a river to run through the pond to allow this to be used for fishing, canoeing and wildlife area!

Once plans are finalised for the remembrance area for Mikaeel Kular the group is keen to contribute to getting this ready so that whole community of North Edinburgh has somewhere to spend some quiet reflection time.

At Pilton Youth and Children’s Project the group has painted the café area (above), creating a brighter more user friendly area for centre users to enjoy and the group will shortly be taking part in a conservation project based on the local cycle paths.

Scottish Youth Parliament: Elections 2015

Scottish Youth Parliament Elections 2015

The Scottish Youth Parliament holds elections every two years. The next elections to the Scottish Youth Parliament will take place in March 2015.

“The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) represents Scotland’s young people. Our democratically elected members, aged 14-25, listen to and recognise the issues that are most important to young people, ensuring that their voices are heard by decision makers. We encourage all of Scotland’s young people to play their part in achieving our vision and provide a national platform for their participation in democracy.”

The stated aim of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) is to represent and promote the views of Scotland’s young people. In seeking to achieve this, the organisation has adopted a quasi-parliamentary structure, with a standing body of members elected on a regular basis. The organisation seeks to promote the values of democracy, inclusion, political independence and passion.

The work of the SYP is designed to deliver five key objectives:

Affecting Change: A nation that listens to the voices of its young people.
Diverse Representation: All of Scotland’s young people are able to participate.
Positive about Young People: Young people are recognised as key contributors to Scottish society.
Developing Leaders: Through access to opportunities and training, our young people lead the way.
Celebrating Democracy: A strengthened relationship between young citizens and their political structures.

Your local candidates are:

EDINBURGH CENTRAL

Eilidh Dewar

Hello! My name is Eilidh Dewar and I am a 6^th year student at Broughton High School. I have always had a keen interest in politics and what young people want which is exactly why I got involved with the SYP. I feel like I would be an excellent member of the SYP because I am headstrong and I like standing up for what the young people in Edinburgh want. You should vote for me if you’re looking for someone who will stand up for young people and work extremely hard to get the voices of young people heard.

Lucy Duffy

My name is Lucie Duffy and I want to represent you at the SYP. I’m a member of my school’s Amnesty International Youth Group, so I want to help campaign for young people’s basic human rights, as well as other issues such as better Sex Education in schools and votes for 16 and 17 year olds. I think I could make a difference as an MSYP because I would listen to the views of other young people in my area and I believe that every single young person deserves the right to have a voice in Scotland.

Shorter version: I’m Lucie, and I want to represent you at the SYP because I think that young people deserve the right to have a voice in Scotland.

Wing-Yan Ng

I hope you will consider me as a candidate for Edinburgh Central, last year I successfully fulfilled one of my promises with promoting the living wage up to £7.85, please allow me again to work towards my manifesto and fulfil my promises to you. Giving young people fair representation is crucial to me and I want to protect your interests and I believe I can make a difference by representing your interests in the Scottish Youth Parliament. Voicing your opinion is important and I hope that you can lay your trust in me and support me. I would like to serve you in Edinburgh Central.

EDINBURGH NORTHERN AND LEITH

Callum Corea

I want to make young people feel they’re being represented and have a strong voice which is heard. I also want to make MSYP’s more accessible to young people and therefore easier to contact. I’m planning to have consultations with young people on issues affecting them such as youth involvement! I’ll also be campaigning on young carer and other similar issues which affect young adults. I’m aiming to campaign on equal pay for 16 – 20 year olds but also want to raise people’s awareness of young people’s contribution to society. I’m planning to campaign for more funding for youth groups but will be campaigning to set up more youth forums and other ways where young people can get more involved in politics and society. To help make all of this happen I’ll be working away to bridge the gap between decision makers and young people!

Nicolette Ester

Ever thought about being a little more responsibly disruptive?

As the next generation of Scottish leaders, I believe we need to take responsibility and raise our voices to protect the provisions in place to support our personal development. It’s no secret that times are getting harder, so, whether it’s cheaper public transport, a higher minimum-wage or better sports facilities vote for me as your SYP representative and I’ll help you speak out and get a little more responsibly disruptive about the issues that matter to you

Let’s work together to empower the young people of Scotland and fight for a brighter future! If anything else is needed please let me know!

Eilidh Mackay

Hi I’m Eilidh and I want to be your representative for North and Leith in the Scottish Youth Parliament. I am very passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of young people both nationwide and in this community. Being involved in change is something I have already been trying to get involved in, being a part of the Edinburgh Youth Issues forum for over four years, this is another way to continue that. If elected, I plan to find other ways to become involved in my close community, to stay in touch issues that young people have there.

Kieran Reape

I believe it to be crucial for young people from the age 16 and over, to be allowed to vote in the UK general election and European election. We have seen progress with this by allowing 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the Referendum and the upcoming 2016 Scottish general election. This was the outcome of successful lobbying from the Scottish Youth Parliament. I intend to further the recent success by getting the UK government and European Parliament to abide by the same rules. By voting for me in Edinburgh North and Leith you will be adding support to this cause.

Terri Smith

My name is Terri Smith and I am your current MSYP but also hoping to work for you for another 2 years. Over the years I have successfully campaigned on equal marriage, votes at 16, a living wage, supporting young carers whilst currently working on a campaign called POVERTY: see it change it. If re-elected I aim to focus on more support for LGBT young people, equal access to local and national opportunities, better engagement with local youth forums/groups and clubs, campaign for better work experience as well as tackling bullying in schools and also continue to work with NUS Scotland to support college and university students. Being an MSYP is about representing what you want and if you want someone with a proven track record on delivering whilst always ensuring a bit of banter is thrown in then vote for #TeamTerri – follow on twitter @3terrismith

EDINBURGH WESTERN

Owen Cruikshank

There are so many issues effecting Scotland’s young people today but one issue that must be addressed is Inequality. More than 1in5 of Scotland’s young people are classed as being in poverty. This is a shocking statistic but who better to tackle it than us – the young people. I am committed to helping create genuine change in our community and our country.

Although I have achieved a lot in my term, I know that there’s more I can achieve for our community. I can and will represent Edinburgh Western in the best possible way should I be re-elected.

Laura Holloway

Statement to follow

Sarah Outterson

I would like to be part of the Scottish Youth Parliament because I believe it’s really important that young people have a voice and a say in the decisions which affect their lives. I would campaign for disability awareness and hope to get more respect with those with disabilities. I would hope to raise the political awareness of young people as I think it’s increasingly important as we raise voting age that we know as young people the differences between each party.

I also hope to get Feminism in PSE lessons in schools. I think this is a great idea because they would then know what Feminism really is and not what they hear from their friends.

If you want to no more about me and my campaign you can follow me on Twitter at @ S_Outterson or on my blog on someonelikesarah.wordpress.com

For further information visit www.syp.org.uk/elections-2015

hustings flyer poster

Craigie crew tackles fire safety programme

‘One of the very best groups I have worked with’ – Ally Paterson

Eight pupils from Craigroyston Community High School took part in a Scottish Fire & Rescue Service youth engagement programme ran at Crewe Toll fire station this week. The students learned teamwork, communications and basic fire fighting skills during their training course, which they displayed to friends and family in an impressive exhibition at the local fire station yesterday.

Fire Service Youth Engagement Co-ordinator Ally Paterson explained “Working with young people means that the fire service can raise awareness and challenge attitudes to fire safety and other forms of anti-social behaviour.

“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Youth engagement project engages with young people aged between 12-17 in order to work towards reducing hoax calls and secondary fires and to increase awareness of local community safety issues.

“We encourage positive social behaviour by using a combination of intensive group work and fire service activities with a view to raising self-esteem, confidence, personal motivation and increase problem solving skills.

“The programme allows participants to experience basic fire service tasks such as team building, first aid, hose running and ladder climbing to develop physical stamina. All activities incorporate a fire safety message and endorse a strong group work component.’’

Ally was particularly impressed with the Craigroyston recruits. “This was a really good group – I can honestly say that this has been one of the very best groups I have worked with in four years of doing this job. You could see them progress over the course of the week – I was really impressed with their attitude, they were keen to learn and a real pleasure to work with.”

On the final day of the programme, the young people – Josh Reid, Brent Blackie, Dylan Williamson, Liam Henderson, Arnis Zironkina, Lee Stevensdale, Josh Hardwick and Kieran Blackie – gave a practical presentation to demonstrate the skills they’d learned over the course of the week, and following the display the students were presented with certificates to recognise their achievements.

Brent, Dylan and Kieran have also been nominated to progress on to SFRS’ Phoenix programme for further training.

Speaking after the presentations, sixteen year old Kieran Blackie, who’s from Muirhouse, said: “It’s been an absolutely fantastic week, just amazing. We’ve been learning the skills the firefighters learn in their thirteen weeks basic training – but we’ve had to do it in four and a half days! It was a lot to take in but we’ve all definitely learned a lot, especially about the importance of teamwork and working together.”

Josh Hardwick also enjoyed the training. “I loved the whole week, every part of it, but if I had to choose the best bits I really enjoyed the session were we worked in a small, dark, confined space to locate and rescue a casualty – that might not be everybody’s idea of fun, but I really enjoyed it! The high ladder work was great too, although not ideal if you don’t have a head for heights. I think the week taught us just how hard the firefighters work and how dangerous their job can be.”

Congratulations to the Craigie crew!

More pictures on our Facebook page

Weather’s no match for local Army Cadets!

Nearly one hundred Army Cadets aged 12-18 years shrugged off freezing temperatures during a recent training weekend in the Pentland Hills, their first camp of 2015.

The weekend saw cadets based at Granton Square overcome snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures to put into practice the skills taught at their local Detachment.

Cadets took part in navigation training, first aid and fieldcraft. During the fieldcraft phase, cadets learned how to build improvised shelters and secure a ‘temporary home’ known as a Harbour Area.

Senior Cadets under the supervision of the Adult Volunteers grasped the opportunity to demonstrate to the younger Cadets how preparedness, teamwork and self-discipline can determine your success and survival, whatever the weather.

Major John Tonner, Officer Commanding of the weekend said: “I am extremely impressed with the abilities demonstrated by the Cadets and their maturity in applying themselves in the adverse conditions brought by the cold weather.

“It is a very unique opportunity for individuals to witness how valuable skills provided within our Youth Organisation can steer young people to go further in their chosen path in life”.

The ability to adapt quickly was demonstrated by all of the Cadets resulting in many new qualifications gained and successful testing to allow Cadets to progress onto the next stage of their Cadet careers with 17 Cadets gaining new First Aid qualifications and five Adult Volunteers receiving their First Aid at Work qualification.

17 Platoon is part of Lothian & Borders Army Cadet Force and have training nights every Monday and Wednesday evenings between 7 – 9pm. They welcome cadets between 12 and 18 years of age and encourage parents to get involved too.

You can find out more about the Cadet’s sporting and adventure training activities by visiting their Detachment at the Army Reserve Centre at Granton Square, online at www.lbcadets.co.uk or by calling 01506 856 698.

MHA welcomes tenants to new homes

Muirhouse Housing Association (MHA) has announced the completion of the first batch of flats within their latest development. The flats, on Macgill Drive at the end of Muirhouse Avenue, are part of their second development on the old BT Training Ground site.

MHA accepted handover of twelve cottage flats yesterday. The flats are all main door, within a traditional four in a block design, and are all one bedrooms. They are aimed at an older age group and the ground floor flats are fully accessible to wheelchair users.

The flats benefit from an efficient gas central heating system and reach the Silver Sustainable Standard of energy efficiency. The ground floor flats have a wet floor shower room, and the upper flats have an over bath shower.

All tenants will have access to a shared garden which in the next year will be developed to meet the tenant’s needs. This includes drying areas and amenity space. MHA will maintain the shared garden area and we hope it will be well used as a communal area.

Of the twelve flats, seven have been allocated to existing tenants of MHA who are either downsizing from family houses or require a ground floor flat due to medical reasons while the remaining five have been allocated to applicants from Edindex.

As a result of twelve new units being built, 19 households have been housed or re-housed to suit their current needs.

May and Alan Price (above) are among the families on the move. “We have lived at Muirhouse Close for eighteen years – since the houses were built,” May said. “Our family has grown up and moved on now and it made sense for us to move to a smaller home. I really like the new flat and I think this will be great for us; perfect, really.”

MHA Chairperson Roy Douglas (pictured above with Bank of Scotland’s Douglas Spowart) said: “We’re delighted to welcome our residents to their new homes today and we hope they will be very happy here. Everyone is impressed with the quality of these new flats and of course we will have more to come in the summer. These are exciting times for MHA!”

The second phase of the development also includes some mid-market flats which will be available in July. These two bedroom flats will be marketed by Muirhouse Homes, and are targeted at households in employment who do not require Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance. Advertising will start soon locally, and then will be expanded to cover the city.

If you are interested you can register your contact details with MHA and you will then be included in the marketing mailing list. Contact 336-5282 or email mh4@muirhouseha.org.uk