The Power to the People group has been busy …

Power to the People is a group for adults  in North Edinburgh who are interested in social history, current affairs and the arts.

We have been meeting together since 2012 and  enjoy getting together to learn about  things we are interested in and getting involved  in issues which concern us.  The group is friendly, informal and free and new members can join any time.

Over the last year, we have been learning about North Edinburgh’s early history through studying archive material, visiting exhibitions, watching films and inviting guest speakers to our group.

We are  currently working on a heritage leaflet and a short film for STV’s history programme documenting key aspects of North Edinburgh’s history which will allow us to share the area’s  fascinating history with a wider audience.

We also enjoy getting out and about and  going to different places of interest.  Last week we went on a visit to Wester Hailes to learn about  their social history project.

Over the last few years, the project has been involved in digitising  and publicising  back copies of the Wester Hailes Sentinal and have established a local blog and  Facebook page.

The project have also been involved in developing social history walks in the area  in conjunction with Wester Hailes Health Agency and has installed  Scotland’s first digital  totem pole (above) which contains QR codes which allow people to access further information about the area’s history via a smart phone.

We have recently  developed  a  new programme of   information and discussion sessions dealing with issues we are concerned about such as fracking on the Forth, the proposed abolition of the Human Rights Act and the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership (TTIP). 

The first of these sessions will take place  tomorrow – Tuesday 6 October, from 10am – 12.30  – in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.

The next session will take place early in  November and will be held in the evening to allow people to attend who are unable to get to day time sessions.  A free crèche will be provided by Royston Wardieburn Community Centre to allow people with children to participate.

We have also organised a screening of the Glasgow Girls, (see above), the true story of a group of school pupils from Drumchapel, who led a successful campaign to save their friend from deportation. The film  developed into a powerful human rights movement which resulted in changes in immigration practices in Scotland. 

Following the screening of the film, we will be joined by Roza Salih, one of the Glasgow Girls, for a discussion about the issues raised.  The screening will take place  this Thursday 8 October at 6.30 in North Edinburgh Arts.  There is no charge for attending this event  and transport and a crèche have been organised.  Please call 552 5700 to book.

For those of you who enjoy  getting out and about and enjoy the company of others, our next visit will be to the National Library of Scotland  on Tuesday 27 October.  We will be  viewing an exhibition on the life and times of  Thomas Muir,  a radical political reformer known as ‘the father of Scottish Democracy’.

Anyone wishing further information about the group or any of the activities planned this term  should call Lynn McCabe,  on  552 5700 (Tuesday – Thursday)  or email Lynn at  lynn.mccabe@ea.edin.sch.uk