Join us for a Free Family Easter Event tomorrow Monday 8 April, between 10am – 12pm at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre
Enjoy arts and crafts, an exciting Easter egg hunt, and some refreshments. Don’t miss this family-friendly Easter break fun, simply come along and join us Monday morning. 
For more information, please contact the NEA Link Up Team at 07493 876 130.
Community groups across Edinburgh will be able to provide vital services and support for thousands of local people thanks to National Lottery funding announced today.
North Edinburgh projects have done particularly well in the latest round of funding. Both North Edinburgh Arts and Stepping Stones North Edinburgh are awarded six figure sums, while Muirhouse Millennium Centre, Heart of Newhaven, Blackhall Children’s Sports Committee, Ama-zing Harmonies and Granton Parish Church are among other local organisations to receive grants today.
The latest round of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund is shared amongst 384 projects across Scotland, sharing in £15,048,544.
See below for a full list of projects
North Edinburgh Arts will use their award of £148,821 to continue their ‘Green Projects’ programme which provides green spaces for local people to come together whilst offering a range of volunteering opportunities and arts and garden activities for people of all ages to get involved in.
Valla Moodie, Green Projects Manager, North Edinburgh Arts said: “This funding will enable us to start an exciting phase of work as we move back into our refurbished and extended building after two years in temporary venues, setting up our new Community Shed workshop and redeveloping our community garden at the back of our venue.
“This support, given to our ‘Green Projects’, will allow us to continue to offer opportunities for our local community that improve their health and well-being whilst contributing to the enrichment of their neighbourhood, building local resilience to big issues and sharing and supporting them with actions that combat climate change.”
STEPPING STONES North Edinburgh receive £132,020 through the Improving Lives programme.
The group, based at Inchgarvie Court in West Pilton, will use the funding to continue delivering their Family Wellbeing project, supporting primary school children and their families by providing individual, group and equine mental health support in North West Edinburgh.
Thanks to an award of £126,671, Deaf Action will run a digital literacy programme to help deaf people across the city develop and improve their skillset.
Support will be provided through a series of one-to-one sessions and group work covering specific topics such as word processing, scam awareness, healthcare apps and video calling software.
Lauren McAnna, Community Services Manager, Deaf Action said: “Our Digital Inclusion Service will support deaf people living across Edinburgh to become digitally empowered, unlocking a world of information, resources and opportunities that will foster greater independence and help improve life outcomes.
“We will support deaf adults and older people who face significant barriers to communication and social inclusion and who are likely to be experiencing financial hardship and/or socioeconomic disadvantage.
“By supporting deaf people to overcome barriers to digital literacy they can become more connected and active citizens, have increased independence and improved wellbeing in many aspects of their lives.”
An award of £19,929 to Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland means they can continue to identify more victims of human trafficking across the city.
Joy M Gillespie, CEO, Survivors of Human Trafficking said: “We will be able to work with our cross-sector partners to recover more victims of human trafficking in Edinburgh and provide vital prevention information to those most at risk.
“We believe there is power in partnership and are grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for partnering with us to help end end human trafficking in Scotland.”
Announcing the funding, Kate Still, Scotland Chair, The National Lottery Community Fund said: “This latest round of National Lottery funding will be distributed to groups across Edinburgh who are providing a range of essential services and support for thousands of local people, helping to make a real difference to their lives.
“As The National Lottery prepares to mark its 30th birthday later this year, today’s investment is a timely reminder of the difference that National Lottery players continue to make to communities across the country.”
The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.
To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk
MONDAY 29th JANUARY from 3 -5pm
at PYCP’s GREENHOUSE on WEST PILTON BRAE
WINTER WARMER EVENT at WEST PILTON NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
Citizen Winter Warmer: Stories and Scran at North Edinburgh Arts
Saturday 2 December at 3pm
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre
£5/£3 (Concession/NEA Members) including an afternoon tea
Come along to this special community celebration bringing together local voices with authors and artists from across Scotland.
Savour a sumptuous afternoon-tea provided by the Scran Academy (included with your ticket) and hear brilliant new writing from local people who have taken part in Edinburgh International Book Festival‘s ‘Citizen’ alongside special guests including Kate Forster and Doug Johnstone.
This year’s event showcases the diverse voices and creative talent from local groups including a film from the North Edinburgh Drama Group and the Book Festival’s own Adults Writing Group.
Don’t miss the event and book your tickets at:
TUESDAY 31 OCTOBER 2 – 3pm
at WEST PILTON NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
Artist Alice Betts, together with members of the Art for Grown Ups group, have been exploring and developing a plan for a permanent visual arts studio and making space within the expanded and refurbished NEA venue, due to re-open in 2024.
You can read more about the research project in our blog post at northedinburgharts.co.uk/developing-a-community-visual-arts-space/
As part of her research project, Alice would like to hear from local creative adults who are interested in using a free visual arts studio space at North Edinburgh Arts.
Join the Open Meeting: NEA Community Studio Space on Tuesday 31 October at 2pm at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre to share your thoughts and ideas about a community-accessible studio space within the refurbished NEA.
This event is open to local artists, creatives, and NEA project participants including those from the Community Shed, Create Community Wealth, Art for Grown Ups, and A Stitch in Time.
Come and help shape our future free space for North Edinburgh’s creative community. This is a free event. Advance booking isn’t required.
For more information, please email alice.betts@northedinburgharts.co.uk
TUESDAY 10th OCTOBER at WEST PILTON NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
5 – 8pm (Drop-In)
Community Shed opening hours update
Due to staffing changes our free drop-in wood-making session times haves slightly changed to ** Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10am to 2.30pm **
We’re still making and mending, using recycled wood, at the NEA Community Shed, but for the rest of the year we are based at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre (67b Groathill Road North, Edinburgh, EH4 2SA).
If you want to learn more about wood-making, up-cycle your home furniture or make something new out of recycled wood, come and join us!
For more information, please email garden@northedinburgharts.co.uk
A partnership to support cancer patients and their families to deal with the financial, emotional and physical health effects of the disease is to be extended with a further investment of £9 million.
The programme looks to ensure that everyone affected by cancer in Scotland has access to a specialist key support worker. This means clinicians have more time to offer direct medical and clinical support to patients.
Over the next three years, it is anticipated there will be a gradual increase in access to the service, with a minimum of 14,000 new cancer diagnoses accessing it each year.
The Scottish Government has been working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to improve the service offered to those affected by cancer through the Transforming Cancer Care Programme (TCC). This partnership – the first of its kind in the UK – began under the 2016 Cancer Strategy and has seen £18 million invested to date.
The Scottish Government has agreed to continue the partnership and provide an additional three years of funding for the Improving the Cancer Journey services. Each partner will invest an additional £4.5 million.
Making the announcement ahead of a visit to NHS Forth Valley to celebrate the NHS 75th anniversary, First Minister Humza Yousaf said: ““Our recently published Cancer Strategy and Action Plan places an emphasis on person-centred care for all and supporting the mental health of cancer patients and their families.
“We have committed to launch the final Improving the Cancer Journey service, in partnership with Macmillan, over the next three years. We will also commit to spreading this successful model to all areas in Scotland over the coming year.
“This will see an additional £9 million of joint investment and ensure that everyone diagnosed with cancer in Scotland has access to a key support worker. It will be of great benefit to patients while also easing pressure on the NHS by freeing up clinicians.”
Janice Preston, Head of Partnerships at Macmillan Cancer Support in Scotland, said: “The Macmillan Improving the Cancer Journey (ICJ) Services are available for anyone affected by cancer.
“By the end of 2024, everyone in Scotland who needs support will have the chance to talk to an ICJ practitioner who will help individuals to identify their needs and access expert support, from benefits advice to emotional support – whatever they might need.
“This is a unique service for people affected by cancer that helps to reduce pressure on the NHS and is making a really positive difference to people living with cancer and their families. Since 2014, these vital, non-medical services have already helped over 18,500 people and this money will mean they can keep on transforming cancer support across Scotland.
“We are excited that, through our partnership with the Scottish Government, another £9 million is being made available to ensure people can continue to get this help for another three years.”
The roll out of the Improving the Cancer Journey model to every Health & Social Care Partnership follows 4 key principles:
o 100% of adults diagnosed with cancer, within agreed criteria, will be invited or referred to an ICJ service to speak to a specialist practitioner.
o An ICJ practitioner with the service user will complete a Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) and generate a care plan to meet the needs identified.
o Local community assets will be identified and utilised to support the service user in meeting their needs.
o The service user will be followed up by the ICJ practitioner in the community to monitor progress with agreed actions.
LOCAL ARTS ORGANISATION REACHES 80% OF FUNDING TARGET
North Edinburgh Arts has been awarded £250,000 from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund to support the Millan Hub project.
The announcement marks a significant step forward in NEA’s capital development journey, bringing the organisation closer to achieving their fundraising target: they have now reached 80% of their total goal.
Communites across the UK will benefit from over £50 million in funding to support community ownership of local assets.
North Edinburgh Arts was one of eight successful applicants in Scotland at this stage of the process. Another Edinburgh applicant was Portobello’s campaign to renovate their Town Hall. They receive £90,000.
This £250,000 awarded to NEA will be added to funds already secured for the ambitious build from Foundation Scotland, The Garfield Weston Trust, The William Syson Trust, The Robertson Trust, The Binks Foundation, and the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.
Reaching four fifths of the target gives a real boost to NEA’s Board, team, participants, visitors, and volunteers alike.
A NEA spokesperson said: “We are grateful for the overwhelming support we have received from our local residents, with over 96% backing our mission to keep NEA at the heart of a creative, connected, inspired, and inspiring community.
“Your unwavering belief in our vision has been the driving force behind this achievement. Thank you for your ongoing support!”
NEA is a well-loved and well-used venue but we had outgrown our building. To meet the needs of current and future generatons of North Edinburgh residents it needed to be redeveloped.
As part of the new MacMillan Hub the NEA capital programme will:
Increase the footprint of NEA by 380m2, adding two foors of studio and work/ space
Extend the café to look/ into MacMillan Square, and ofer enhanced community facilites
Provide bespok/e work/shop space for the ommunity Shed
Reduce the carbon footprint through beter insulaton, lightng and environmental design and constructon
Be a fully owned community asset.
With the build scheduled for completion early in 2024 NEA has set up a welcome cabin in front of the site to ensure local residents can find out more about the build, join up as NEA members (htps://northedinburgharts.co.uk//membership/) and share their aspiratons for the space.
The refurbished, redesigned and expanded venue will be a welcome space for all, ofering local residents high quality culture, arts, enterprise and meetng spaces. In additon, our venue will link, on site, to the city council’s new Library, new Learning and Skills Hub, new Early Years Centre and social housing.
Lesley Hinds, Chair of North Edinburgh Arts said: ‘North Edinburgh Arts is delighted to receive funding from Community Ownership Fund.
This funding from the Westminster Government shows the confidence they have in NEA and its future in the expanded facilities at MacMillan Hub.’
For more information, visit northedinburgharts.co.uk/development/
RECALLING THE EXPERIENCES OF DURHAM WOMEN DURING THE MINERS STRIKE
NORTH Edinburgh Arts are excited to be working with Transgressive North to host two screening events at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre as part of The Folk Film Gathering!
On Monday 12th June at 6pm we have the pleasure of hosting the Amber Collective for the Scottish premiere of their dynamic tribute to the women of East Durham, who kept their communities afloat during the Mining Strike of the 1980s.
A powerful story of resilience, solidarity and survivorship – Amber Collective’s remarkable film (screened here along with the Scottish premiere of their latest short film) is a moving testament to enduring community.
The film willl be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers.
Book your FREE spot here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/…/amber-collective-screening…
A double-screening event of the Amber Collective’s 2021 feature doc WHAT HAPPENED HERE, alongside their 2022 film STILL HERE.
Monday, June 12 · 6 – 8:30pm. Amber’s remarkable film (screened here along with the Scottish premiere of the Collective’s latest short film) is a moving testament to enduring community.
The film willl be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers.
Book now:
https://www.eventbrite.com/…/amber-collective-screening…
