Total-ly delighted!

£84,000 will establish a Community Leadership College

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The STV Appeal is the fund that just keeps on giving to projects in North Edinburgh – Total Craigroyston became the latest local beneficiary when it received almost £84,000 from the charity programme.

STV CEO and trustee of the STV Appeal Rob Woodward and Chris Wilson managing director, Retail and Private Banking, RBS, presented the cheque for £83, 980 to Total Craigroyston manager Christine Mackay yesterday.

The STV Appeal raised £2.6million in 2014 – £305,689 of this was raised by RBS branches.

Total Craigroyston is an initiative set up by the Edinburgh Partnership to improve outcomes for children and families in the neighbourhood around Craigroyston Community High School. The project is doing this by taking a three pronged approach –

  • strengthening services that are open to all like health, early years and schools;
  • strengthening support for families;
  • supporting local people to organise their own activities.

Now, working in partnership with charities Circle Scotland and the Link-up Muirhouse project, an idea has been developed to establish a Community Leadership College. This will help Total Craigroyston expand leadership capability amongst local residents.

Julie Crawford, Muirhouse Link Up development worker, said: “We are really excited about the opportunity that the STV Appeal has given us to turn our idea into reality. This project will help us work with local people to build on the excellent local leadership that exists at the moment and take it to the next level.”

Chris Wilson, managing director, Retail and Private Banking, RBS, said: “It’s fantastic to see first-hand the work of projects like Total Craigroyston and understand the real impact that the money from the STV Appeal will have on them. RBS is proud to support the STV Appeal and help change the lives of vulnerable children and young people in Scotland.”

The STV Appeal is committed to making a difference in the lives of children and young people living in poverty in Scotland. Across the country, 220,000 children live in poverty and figures from the Campaign to End Child Poverty show that in the city of Edinburgh it’s actually 21.1% of children – more than one in five.

Total Craigroyston is just one of the projects the STV Appeal is supporting in North Edinburgh – Pilton Youth & Childrens Project, Changeworks and Fresh Start have all received grants from the funder.

Since launch in 2011, the STV Appeal has raised over £8.2 million with 297 big and small grants distributed to projects across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland, providing much needed support to over 37,000 children. The money raised is distributed to provide practical help like food and warm clothes; create opportunities for training and employability; and enable social and emotional support for those who need it most.

Rob Woodward, STV CEO and trustee of the STV Appeal, said: “The money donated to the STV Appeal remains in Scotland and will help bring about a positive change to the lives of vulnerable children and young people on our doorstep.  With the help of the extraordinary fundraising efforts taking place in communities across the country we have raised an incredible £2.6m in 2014 allowing us to make grants to 297 projects.  We are extremely grateful to everyone who supported the Appeal.”

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Eyes down for final session of 2014

Jackie’s Christmas Bingo

Wednesday 17 December  

Doors Open 7.00pm, Eyes Down 7.30pm

bingo1Jackie ends her Bingo sessions for 2014 with a Christmas Extravaganza tomorrow (Wednesday 17th). This will be some Bingo Session, Jackie says!

We at the Centre would like to thank all the faithful followers of the bingo (with a difference!)

Our thanks to Link-Up (Scotland) – a Scottish Government initiative who recognised the need for a venue to replace the local bingo hall and surveyed the community on the closure of the Granton bingo venue.

Our thanks to Jackie for all her hard work

Finally ( On behalf of the Board and Bingo fans) our gratitude and thanks to staff and volunteers staying on at night, throughout the year making all this possible.

Happy Christmas and an enjoyable last Bingo Session of 2014!

Jim McGinty, Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre

Citizenship in action

Bag Packing at Morrison’s (Ferry Road) 8 November 
Muirhouse Community Centre’s Boys & Girls Clubs

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Additional funds were needed to insure the best possible experiences throughout the year for both the Centre’s Clubs (writes JAMES McGINTY). Morrison’s graciously allowed our boys and girls to bag pack at the check outs – and a very generous donation from Scottish Gas of £250 gave the clubs a flying start!

Fifteen boys and girls – along with Paul, Chris, Donna, Stephanie, Peter & Allan who acted as supervisors – got down to their tasks with great zest and enthusiasm.

mmc2The boys were first up, being transported by MYDG transport ( Many thanks to Muirhouse Youth Development Group) working from 2 – 4pm, then the girls from 4 – 6pm.

The total raised on the day (including Scottish Gas’ generous donation) was £612.76p. The whole exercise fitted perfectly with the citizenship taught in the clubs on a weekly basis. Thank you to everyone involved!

James McGinty

Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre

 

Tough times but North West Carers are back on track

‘change is part of the provision of social care’

NWCarersNorth West Carers Centre has had it’s share of difficulties over the last year: without a manager and facing a funding crisis, there were times when the voluntary board and staff must have thought about throwing in the towel. Thankfully they remained loyal to the project, however, and their recent annual general meeting heard that the Carers Centre is still very much alive and kicking!

Chairperson Ian Huggan told the meeting, held in Muirhouse Millennium Centre: “it has been a particularly difficult year for the Board and staff of North West Carers. We spent most of the year without a Manager while coping with a difficult financial position. We are especially grateful to our main funder, the City of Edinburgh Council, for their support not only financially but also from the commissioners during this time.”

During the course of the year the project has been strengthened by the addition of committed new directors, who have worked with the existing Board and staff team to keep the project afloat. The project also received a much-need boost with the arrival of experienced manager Angela Dias (pictured above with Ian)  in July.

The North West Carers Centre is now moving forward again at last, but challenges remain: as always in the voluntary sector, funding is one concern and adapting to changing demands on your service – often with reduced budgets – is another.

“When the Scottish Government seeks cuts in expenditure from local authorities voluntary organisations feel the result of any cuts in the funding of our services,” Ian Huggan said. “I remember the chairperson of a voluntary organisation asking me ten years ago: ‘when will all this change stop?’ My answer then is the same as now: change is part of the provision of social care. Don’t expect things to be the same year in, year out.”

He went on: “North West Carers is acutely aware of some changes that will come from outside but we must also look at the way we work and deliver services. Looking for threats and opportunities is the name of the game”.

The Board continues to look for new funding streams and has developed a series of plans to address change, detailing clear outcomes and targets, but in a time of change one thing remains constant: the determination to provide a service that Carers want and need.

Mr Huggan, who stepped down as chairman at the meeting, concluded: “Carers are at the heart of our service and the Board and staff will be working hard in the coming year to improve communication with, and participation of, Carers in all that we do. We need to ask you what you want from us and endeavour to meet your needs.”

talking about regeneration

Muirhouse residents invited to take part in regeneration focus group

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Ashley McDonald is a final year Geography student at the University of Edinburgh. As part of her final year study, she is undertaking research on the regeneration taking place in Muirhouse and she’d like to hear from YOU!

If you live in Muirhouse or Pennywell and you’d be interested in taking part in a small focus group to discuss your opinions on the regeneration and the area’s future, email Ashley for further details at: amcdonald1168@gmail.com

Ashley has booked Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre next Tuesday -(25th November) from 6.30pm – 8.30pm.

Still caring …

Muirhouse Millennium Centre’s JAMES McGINTY reports on North West Carers annual general meeting,  which took place last week …

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Ian Huggin (Chairperson, above centre) welcomed everyone to the AGM, and introduced all members of the board to the audience.

Ian stated he was especially grateful to many who had helped the Carers during the last year to steer the finances to a strong position as they go forward to next year. Concern was raised as to the future funding of the Young Carers and, as treasurer Eddie Thorn explained, funding was difficult for all concerned.

Many of the Directors gave a huge thank you to their main funder, the City of Edinburgh Council, for their continued support not only financially, but from the Commissioners during a difficult period.

A very personal, human story from speaker Gordon told why he had found the project such a great support.

A video shown by Marcia showed the Young carers at a weekend respite camp enjoying a disco, fun park and a concert which included the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. She explained the work that N.W.C.C. did with them, and what the young people did as Carers.

Project manager Angela Diaz gave a brief report of the partnerships involved with the N.W.C..C project, and praised her staff and board for their industry & commitment during the last year.

Minutes of the last A..G.M. were approved and seconded as an accurate report.

Fiona Drinna and Linda Paterson were elected to the Board; Margaret Robertson retired and stood down from the board and was presented with a floral arrangement by staff.

Finally, the Young Carers performed a spirited song and dance routine, much to the delight of the audience (below). Roll on next year for this excellent project!

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Words & pictures by James McGinty

Bert’s back!

Bert NENJust another day at the office, so I thought, when a weel-kent face came in with leaflets for a new ‘SET UP & GO PROGRAMME’ – information on a course designed to support individuals into self–employment/working from home.

Readers of the loved NEN paper will without doubt remember the ‘Where’s Bert?’ feature – it was terrific to see Bert looking so fit and well and still working for the Community.

The course duration is 12 hours per week over 3 days; in a 3 week course.

If you do not have this leaflet and are interested in it, please feel free to pop into Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre where we have the leaflets at the reception desk. ( OOPS did I give the location of Bert away ? Sorry – there will be no prizes for guessing where Bert is now!

For further detail contact Bert on 0758925313 or Lynne 07816786934.

PICTURE: MMCC manager Peter Airlie (left) with Bert and Lynne

James McGinty, Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre

Bert's back!

Bert NENJust another day at the office, so I thought, when a weel-kent face came in with leaflets for a new ‘SET UP & GO PROGRAMME’ – information on a course designed to support individuals into self–employment/working from home.

Readers of the loved NEN paper will without doubt remember the ‘Where’s Bert?’ feature – it was terrific to see Bert looking so fit and well and still working for the Community.

The course duration is 12 hours per week over 3 days; in a 3 week course.

If you do not have this leaflet and are interested in it, please feel free to pop into Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre where we have the leaflets at the reception desk. ( OOPS did I give the location of Bert away ? Sorry – there will be no prizes for guessing where Bert is now!

For further detail contact Bert on 0758925313 or Lynne 07816786934.

PICTURE: MMCC manager Peter Airlie (left) with Bert and Lynne

James McGinty, Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre

Muirhouse cancellations this week

Two cancelled events in Muirhouse this week:

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TRIM (Tenants & Residents in Muirhouse)

Our scheduled meeting on Tuesday 11 November has been cancelled. It is unlikely we will have another meeting this year due to the festive period.
We will post a new date once we agree it. Our Facebook, Emails and Phone calls will still continue to be dealt with in the normal way.

Zumba

Zumba/Fitsteps Activity Please be aware and pass it on to  fellow Zumba friends, David Lowe’s Zumba will not be on this Wednesday but will resume normal dates & times next week (Wednesday 19 November).

See more at: http://muirhousecommunitycentre.co.uk/zumba-fitsteps-cancellation/#sthash.0wTghO0P.dpuf