This week sees the return of the Circuit class ( Thursday 6.30 – 7. 7.30 pm) – click HERE for details – and also the return of Muirhouse Mums (click HERE)
James McGinty
Category: Muirhouse
Community invite to strategy consultation
Craighall Centre Health & Social Care event
The three month public consultation on the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership’s draft Strategic Plan and Joint Strategic Needs Assessment ends on 31 October and the Strategic Planning Group, which is overseeing the consultation, is keen to hear from citizens, communities and stakeholders.
The city council is inviting local community groups, organisations and individuals to participate in and give their views on the integration of health and social care services and has organised a number of events across the city to enable you to find out what’s been proposed and have your say.
The local event takes place at Craighall Centre, 210 Ferry Road on Monday 28 September from 1 – 2.30pm (note change of time).
There is a web link included in the flier so people can access to view the plan:
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/
A life on the ocean wave for Craigie crew!
Craigroyston kids sail the Clyde thanks to CashBack for Communities and Ocean Youth Trust Scotland
Eight young people from Edinburgh were given the opportunity to take part in an Ocean Youth Trust Scotland voyage funded with money from CashBack for Communities last week. The group set sail from Greenock on 31 August to spend five days exploring the waters of the Upper Clyde.
The group was made up of young people from Craigroyston Community High School and Castlebrae Community High School.
The Craigroyston group was particularly looking forward to their voyage – three of them recently completed the build of their coastal rowing skiff with Muirhouse Youth Development Group!
Whilst on board, the group found themselves fully responsible for sailing the 72ft yacht, Alba Explorer, including all the elements of day to day life on board the yacht from cleaning and cooking to hoisting and dropping sails on the foredeck.
Speaking to a very excited group at the end of the voyage, this is what they had to say:
“This trip will change lots of people’s lives, especially the people who thought they had nothing after school.”
“An enriched week full of beautiful moments and memories. Life changing and unforgettable.”
“I learned something new every day.”
“I learned so many things, some great ideas we can use with our skiff and confidence in myself and in meeting new people.”
Richard Haig, OYTS First Mate on board said, “It was amazing to see the change in the young people from the start of the week to the end. One of the girls in particular was so quiet at the start of the week. But, by the end I watched her grab a full sail bag from the pontoon and throw it over the guard rail onto the deck saying: “I’m stronger than I look!” – a real show of the confidence she had gained over the week!”
All members of the crew received the Royal Yachting Association’s Start Yachting Level 1 Award, the SQA’s Level 3 Speaking and Listening qualification. All of the young people have also put themselves forward to be Ocean Youth Trust Scotland volunteers and have asked to be put forward for OYT’s Young Leaders Development Programme.
Ocean Youth Trust Scotland (OYT Scotland), Scotland’s leading sail training organisation, is transforming more than 320 young people’s lives over two years thanks to an award from the “CashBack for Communities” scheme – the Scottish Government’s proceeds of crime fund.
Participants from disadvantaged backgrounds across Scotland will take part in five-day long sea voyages in some of the world’s best sailing waters. During the voyage, the novice sailors gain nationally accredited qualifications, and also improve their communication and problem-solving skills.
Nick Fleming, Chief Executive of OYT Scotland said: “Our voyages offer young people a truly unique and life changing opportunity. Over the course of a very intense week, living together in close proximity, they not only learn to sail, they learn leadership skills and how to work effectively as a team.
“This group have been a clear example of all that this programme aims to achieve in every participant. Our sea-staff, comprising both professionals and volunteers, understand how to get the best from each individual. This results in young people often being able to achieve things they never imagined they were capable of and changing their outlook on what the future could hold”.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Investing in our young people is always money well spent and I am delighted that the Scottish Government’s Cashback for Communities programme is providing this valuable funding for worthy projects across Scotland.
“This Government is committed to ensuring young people reach their full potential. The vast majority of them are a credit to society but we want to prevent the small minority getting involved in crime or antisocial behaviour in the first place.
“Scotland’s unique CashBack for Communities programme invests monies seized from criminals back into our communities. Since 2008, we’ve committed £75 million community initiatives right across the country, improving lives and helping Scotland prosper.”
Over the past fifty years, Greenock-based OYT Scotland has grown to become one of the leading sail training charities in the world. With two sail training vessels, Alba Explorer and Alba Venturer, OYT Scotland completed 57 voyages with 569 young people in 2014.
For more information about OYT Scotland go to www.oytscotland.org.uk
For more information on the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities scheme go to www.cashbackforcommunities.org
Helping the helpless: local collection points for humanitarian aid
Edinburgh Direct Aid supporting Syrian refugees
Newhaven -based charity Edinburgh Direct Aid (EDA) is supporting international efforts to give aid to the tens of thousands of desperate people who have been forced to flee their homes, run for their lives and risk the safety of their families.
We can help by providing much-needed supplies – we can all help to make a difference.
The public response has already been tremendous, but the following items are urgently needed:
underwear (new!)
toothpaste
toothbrushes
soap
detergent
toilet paper
nappies
sanitary towels
wipes
And equipment needed for education and vocational training:
notebooks
A4 paper
pens/pencils
boardwriters
sewing materials
wool’
WHERE TO DONATE:
GRANTON MUIRHOUSE and WEST PILTON
The EDA warehouse is located behind a wire-grid gate on the south side of West Harbour Road – just past the TEBA boxing studio and opposite Len Lothian. It’s now open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11am – 3pm.
It is usually possible to park in the road outside, or to bring a car inside the gate but manoeuvring inside the yard can be awkward.
For further information contact Ian on 0785 785 5849
If it’s more convenient, you can make your donations in Muirhouse or West Pilton – both Muirhouse Community Shop on Pennywell Road (Monday to Friday 9am -3pm) and Pilton Youth & Childrens Project (PYCP) (telephone 332 9815) are also collection points for the Edinburgh Direct Aid appeal.
Please give what you can
Four arrests following ‘substantial’ drugs recovery
Muirhouse man arrested following drugs raids
Police in Edinburgh have arrested four people this week in connection with the recovery of a substantial amount of controlled drugs in the city with a combined street value of over £53,000.
A warrant was executed at a residential address in Muirhouse where amphetamine worth around £30,000 and around £1000 worth of cannabis was recovered. A 25-year-old man has been arrested and charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act in connection with this recovery.
Officers also executed a search warrant at a residential address in Lauriston Street, where they found heroin with a street value of around £5,200, various drugs paraphernalia and a large quantity of cash. A 50-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were arrested and charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act. They have been held in custody.
During a separate search, a drugs warrant was executed at a residential address in Westfield Avenue where more heroin with a street value of around £17,200 was seized along with cocaine and a large sum of cash. A 24-year-old woman has been arrested and charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Detective Sergeant Gary Reid said; “These searches removed a significant amount of illegal drugs from our streets and highlights that Police Scotland continues to tackle those involved in organised crime within the city.
“We will continue with a robust approach to tackle crime in the communities we police and I would appeal for the public to provide us with the information we need to disrupt those involved in criminality.
“This information may be provided to your community officers, through contacting police on 101 or alternatively in anonymity by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
1 MSP 1 MP in Muirhouse every month
You wait ages for a politician to come along and then two come along at once … I jest: here’s a wee reminder from JAMES McGINTY at Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre …
Reminder for Friday 4 September 10.30- 11.30am
(Michelle’s first surgery at the Centre:)
Thereafter 1st Friday of each Month
The opportunity to meet 1 M.S.P. and 1 M.P. within four days is a mouth-watering opportunity to discuss anything that is important to you and your neighbourhood with Michelle Thomson MP on Friday (as above) and Colin Keir MSP on Monday!
More help for Scottish homebuyers
Housing Minister visits Pennywell
The Scottish Government will spend £195 million over the next three years on a new shared equity scheme to help around 6,500 households buy a new-build home, it was announced yesterday.
The successor to the existing Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme will focus on affordable homes, with eligible buyers receiving an equity loan towards the purchase price of a new-build home.
There will also be on-going support for small developers, building on the success of the Small Developers scheme, launched in January.
With this new funding, and the Help to Buy scheme, the house-building industry will have received around half a billion pounds of support over a six-year period.
The Scottish Government will work with the house-building industry and lenders to agree on how the new scheme will operate. Further details will be announced following the UK Government’s spending review in November.
Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil visited Pennywell yesterday to meet families who have bought homes through the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme.
Mr Neil said: “Making sure everyone in Scotland has access to good-quality housing is a vital part of the Scottish Government’s drive to secure economic growth, promote social justice, strengthen communities and tackle inequality.
“By targeting resources at affordable homes, the new scheme will widen access by providing a helping hand to individuals and families who wish to buy a new-build home.
“By the end of this new scheme, coupled with support through the current Help to Buy scheme, we will have helped around 14,000 households buy a new-build home.
“We will also reach our five-year plan of 30,000 affordable homes by March 2016 and our planned investment in affordable housing will exceed £1.7 billion.
“Conditions in the housing sector have continually improved under this government. We have seen sustained falls in homelessness and repossessions and a sixth successive annual fall in housing waiting lists.
“We have abolished the Right to Buy, protecting up to 15,500 social homes from sale over the next ten years, and thanks to our funding, councils are building new homes for the first time in 30 years.
“This considerable investment means that through Help to Buy and its successor, the Scottish Government will have invested around half a billion pounds over six years, providing the private sector and construction industry with a huge boost.”
Regeneration firm Urban Union Ltd, a joint venture between construction firms McTaggart Construction and Robertson Group (Holdings), has been appointed by the City of Edinburgh Council to build more than 700 affordable and private homes in Pennywell.
Graeme Nicol, Managing Director, Urban Union Ltd said: “We welcome the news that Help to Buy is continuing through a new shared equity scheme.
“Help to Buy has been incredibly popular – the majority of buyers at our developments at Pennywell in Edinburgh and Laurieston in Glasgow received funding through this scheme.
“Urban Union is committed to delivering affordable homes and the continuation of support, focusing on the affordable housing market, is a much needed and welcome boost for people who need it most.”
City of Edinburgh Council Housing Leader, Councillor Cammy Day (above), said: “I welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to help more people buy affordable, energy efficient homes.
“Increasing housing costs in Edinburgh have priced many people out of the private ownership market, making it impossible for them to get on the property ladder.
“I hope that today’s announcement means more people in Edinburgh will benefit from the Help to Buy scheme and also means that we will be able to take forward more projects like Pennywell, which has played a vital role in regeneration of the local area.”
Packed autumn programme at North Edinburgh Arts
From arts clubs for kids to gardening groups for adults, there’s something for everyone at North Edinburgh Arts this autumn!
Meet Michelle at Muirhouse Millennium Centre
Edinburgh West SNP MP Michelle Thomson now holds a surgery at Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre (writes JAMES McGINTY)
FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 10.30 – 11.30am
Our newly elected MP in Westminster is back in Scotland after an extensive introduction to Westminster parliamentary procedure, whilst juggling her duties here in Scotland in her constituency.
Many of us have followed Michelle’s exploits via her reports in the Evening News. and Michelle now starts her promised General Surgery here in the Centre (see above).
Come along, no appointment necessary (open door). The surgery will take place in the cafeteria area but will have private space available if required.
Happy birthday, Muirhouse Millennium Centre
Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre is celebrating a special anniversary today, writes JAMES McGINTY
Today’s our BIRTHDAY!! Yes we’re 15 today (sorry, that’s the Millennium Centre, not the average age of our workers – how they wish!!) Yes it’s fifteen years from the day Councillors Maginnis and Hinds officially opened the Centre. Have we changed? Ask our visitors!
YES we have, we’re busier more creative in our activities and projects in our activities than ever.
YES We have also improved our publicity and transparency with our venture into our own website, tweets on Twitter posts on our electronic North Edinburgh News and declaring the number of people who participate in the centre activities each month.
YES 15 years on, roll on the 25th & 50th anniversary! Click onto our website for full report with some nostalgic pictures: