Leith Academy event to celebrate LGBT History Month

Edinburgh and Lothian Regional Equality Council, LGBT Youth Scotland and Leith Academy in collaboration with Lothian LGBT Development Group are jointly hosting an event to celebrate LGBT History Month 2015.

LGBT History Month: Education and Equality

Thursday 26 February 2015, 5.30 – 8pm

Leith Academy , 20 Academy Park, Edinburgh, EH6 8JQ

LGBT History Month takes place in Scotland every February. It is an opportunity to celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) lives and culture by exploring our own and others’ histories in an LGBT context. It is also an opportunity for learning, discussion and debate around the continued journey for complete LGBT inclusion.

LGBT_History_Month_2015_Invite

The theme for LGBT History Month 2015 is Education, and this evening will be an opportunity to hear how improved equalities can support pupils and students to achieve.

This year’s celebration will bring together communities to increase awareness of different identities and cultures. It will feature keynote speakers, multicultural performances, dances and live music. It will appeal to teachers, students, professionals and community members.

Can you please share the invitation to friends and family who might be interested in attending the event?

The event is FREE – you can book online via

http://bit.ly/1KFZVsz

LGBT_History_Month_2015_Invite

For further information contact:

Nigel Chipps

Youth and Community Development Officer (Edinburgh and The Lothians), LGBT Youth Scotland

E-mail: nigel.chipps@lgbtyouth.org.uk

Blinded by the light?

Definitely not sweetness and light: new street lighting gets thumbs down from local residents

Some images of the new ‘eco lights’ in operation in Easter Drylaw – that’s them peeking out behind the ‘old’ street lamps!

Which do you think is the more effective?

The new lights don’t seem to be lighting up the lives of local residents. Comments so far include:

‘I’m a car owner. I don’t have a garage or a drive in so I have to park on the street. My car has been vandalised three times in the last year- if it wasn’t that I need my car to get to work I would have got eid of it ages ago. These new lights will make it even easier for the neds to run wild.”

‘They are not bright at all. It’s very scary coming home when it’s dark. There’s not much light – I think they should be brighter for everyones’ safety’

‘They are not bright enough’

‘It looks really nice but it’s also very scary and dangerous at night when walking home alone’

‘I am always careful about letting my children out after tea in the evening. That won’t be happening at all now, not until the clocks go forward. It’s a disgrace.”

‘These lights are nowhere near good enough – the streets are far too dark and pity help any kid who tries to cross a local road in the evening. It’s plain dangerous’.

‘I don’t like them. The streets look darker now unless you are standing directly under the lights. There are spots in which the light doesn’t hit. I think it’s a bad choice and I won’t be surprised if the crime rate increases.’

‘I don’t like the new lights and I think the council should go back to the ones we had. There have been a lot of break-ins in Drylaw and I think these lamps will just make things even easier for the criminals to get away’

‘I know the council is trying to save money but they are cutting the wrong things. They have got a duty to keep people safe. These lights are a bad idea.’

‘I don’t know if it’s just this part of the town or not, but I will bet my last penny that they won’t be putting up with this sort of crap in Corstorphine or Morningside. It’s a disgrace’

No doubt there will be more to follow …

Warm welcome at The Pregnancy Cafe

Are you pregnant? Live locally? Come along to the

PREGNANCY CAFE

at The Haven, next to Craigroyston Primary School

Every Tuesday 10.0 – 11.30

Tea

Friendly company

Help and advice

Pregnancy information

Freebies

Baby stuff

Interested? Ask your midwife or call Jo 537 4230 Julie 332 9269 or just turn up!

Circle Scotland’s Haven Project, Craigroyston Primary School

Muirhouse Place West, EH4 4PX

ADHD Support Group at Muirhouse Library

An informal parents and carers support group for children with ADHD and Autistic spectrum disorders (it doesn’t matter whether your child is diagnosed or not)

*** Every first Wednesday of the month ***

Drop in between 10.15-12pm at Muirhouse Library

Tea, coffee & biscuits will be available

For more details please contact:

Karma (email karmalennon@hotmail.com)

or Jamie on caitlinkal2003@gmail.com

adhd support group

Community anger over poor street lighting

Concern is growing over the poor quality of new street lighting in North Edinburgh. New ‘green’ low-energy lights have been installed over the weekend but residents say the lights are too dim and will encourage more crime and antisocial behaviour.

The energy-efficient LED bulbs are expected to save nearly 40 per cent on the £3m spent lighting the city each year, but for some residents in North Edinburgh the lights just aren’t bright enough. They say that the dark streets will encourage more crime – in an area that has been blighted by crime and antisocial behaviour over recent months.

Local resident Lorraine McTigue said: “These lights were installed yesterday in my street, I thought there had been a blackout; the place is almost pitch black other than house lights now … terrible.”

Another said: “This is crazy. When there is already a huge problem with kids running wild and vandalism nearly every night, why reduce the power of the street lights? Is this all about the council saving money? Well, they might save on the lighting bill but they’ll be paying out a lot more to repair damage caused by vandalism. They just don’t care about the people who live here who will be frightened to go out at night, and it will be us who will have to find the money to get our vandalised cars repaired. Things are bad enough as it is, but this will make things even worse down here.”

Will the council see the light? We’ll keep you posted …

New ‘what’s available’ guide for Parents and Carers

An updated programme of activities and groups for parents and carers has been produced in a handy booklet format.

Click on the link below to find out the full range of activities available across North Edinburgh and beyond:

PACS-North-Booklet

Screen Education Edinburgh rolling out new Cashback projects

Screen Education Edinburgh are running the next round of CashBack for Creativity film projects, with the first target areas being North Edinburgh and West Edinburgh …

Aged 14-19? Interested in learning how to make your own short film?

This 8 week course will introduce you to the basics of storytelling, camera, sound, acting, directing and editing. You will then have the opportunity to shoot your own short film using professional cameras and with the support of our filmmaker tutors. No previous experience is required and it’s free to take part!

This course is accredited with an Explore Level Arts Award (eqv. to SCQF Level 3)
Any questions? Contact Laura McBride – laura@screen-ed.org – 0131 343 1151

Taster Sessions

Come and find out more about the course, meet others who are interested and have a go at writing, shooting and editing a 1 minute film in a 4 hour taster session.

Edinburgh North and Leith
- Friday 6 March – 2pm-6pm @ Out of the Blue
  36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh EH6 8RG – Click HERE for directions
- Saturday 7 March – 1pm – 5pm @ Screen Education Edinburgh
  30 Ferry Road Avenue, EH4 4BA – Click HERE for directions

Edinburgh West
- Friday 6 March – 2pm – 6pm @ Venue in Gorgie TBC
- Saturday 7 March – 1.30pm – 4.30pm @ Wester Hailes Library
  1 Westside Plaza Edinburgh, Midlothian EH14 2ST – Click HERE for directions

Further dates will be announced for Edinburgh East and Central, Edinburgh South, East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian and Forth Valley. Sign up below and we’ll get in touch when we’re in your area!

Get Involved!

For more information and to sign up to register your interest, go to: http://screen-ed.org/filmintro/

Cats abandoned in Muirhouse stairwell

The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information after two cats were abandoned in a stairwell at a block of flats in Muirhouse.

The cats were rescued yesterday after they were discovered on the 11th floor of Fidra Court. The male and female cats are now in the care of SSPCA’s Glasgow Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre.

Senior Inspector Stuart Murray said, “Sadly it seems the cats were abandoned as we’ve not been able to identify anyone in the stairwell they might belong to. The male cat is in okay condition but the female has a very nasty wound on her neck where a makeshift collar has been rubbing against her skin. They are exceptionally friendly cats and the vet has estimated them to be around six years old.

“If anyone has any information we would ask them to get in touch. We’ll soon find these lovely cats a suitable new home.”

Anyone with information is being urged to contact our Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.

PEP’s minibus fleet attacked by vandals

Drivers turned up at Pilton Equalities Project’s yard for work this morning only to discover the organisation’s minibus fleet had been wrecked by vandals overnight.

Minibuses were broken into and goods were stolen during the incident. At least three minibuses are now off the road awaiting replacement back windows – drivers and volunteers have made running repairs to others to ensure essential pickups can go ahead today.

PEP manager Helen Tait said: “I am angry and I am upset. This is so pointless, there is nothing to be gained by doing things like this. We now have to get three buses out to Newbridge today to get their windows replaced – if we don’t, we will be forced to cancel jobs and let people down next week.

“As well as the inconvenience, there is the cost involved – like all voluntary organisations money is tight and this is expenditure we could well do without. We’re now forced to spend a lot of money – hundreds of pounds – on repairs, that’s money that should have been spent on improving services for our clients. It’s sickening.”

If you have any information on the incident please contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sessional work with Total Craigroyston

We have a part time temporary vacancy for a sessional worker to help us develop our Community Leadership College. I’d be grateful if you could circulate this information to any local staff or volunteers whom you think might be interested.

vacancy flyer

Christine Mackay

Manager – Total Craigroyston

Aged 14-19? Interested in learning how to make your own short film?

Taster Sessions

Edinburgh North and Leith

Edinburgh West

Get Involved!