EVENT ORGANISED by MISSION OF INNOCENTS
Mission of Innocents warmly invites you to the 2025 Children’s Creativity Festival.
Performed by the children of the Ukrainian community, experience vibrant dancing and heartfelt singing from the voices of the innocent. Remember to arrive early to explore a beautiful art exhibition showcasing their creativity and culture.
For more information about this event, please contact the organiser:
SATURDAY 11th OCTOBER at 7.30pm
We are the lions, Mr Manager! is the story of the Grunwick Film Processing Factory Strike (1976–78) and the inspirational strike-leader Jayaben Desai, one of many newly arrived Gujarati women workers from East Africa.
“The story of Jayaben Desai… makes you laugh, feel and think… a powerful story, powerfully told.” – Clare Brennan, The Guardian
Saturday 11 October, 7.30pm
Creative Captioning
Tickets: £7 – £14
Discounted tickets available for NEA Members
Book your tickets now: https://northedinburgharts.co.uk/…/we-are-the-lions-mr…/
Presented by Townsend Theatre Productions
Edinburgh’s pioneering Regenerative Futures Fund has reached a major milestone in its long-term effort to shift power and resources into the hands of communities tackling poverty, racism and the climate crisis.
From 97 proposals, a Panel, made up of 15 Edinburgh residents with direct experience of poverty and racism, selected 34 projects to advance to the next stage of funding.
50% of selected projects are led by Black and People of Colour, reflecting the city’s commitment to dismantling racism, tackling the climate transition, ending poverty, and addressing the interconnected challenges shaping a just and thriving future.
Included among the projects initially selected are local initiatives Lauriston Farm Collective, Muirhouse Youth Development Group and R2 (above).
The Resident’s Panel has spent months listening, learning and working through each application with care, mapping projects across the City by geography, theme, and approach. Projects selected will enter the capacity-building phase, from August until December, giving groups the time, space and funding to develop full proposals for long-term, unrestricted funding.
Proposals submitted at the start of 2026 will then be considered for an annual award of £100,000, for ten years. Between 10 and fifteen projects will be selected.
However, the work of the fund goes beyond this as all 34 groups, and dozens more from the initial 97 projects, have registered interest in joining the Regenerative Futures Fund wider network for peer learning, collaboration and collective action – a shared movement for the future of Edinburgh.
“We’re here to build movements, as well as to distribute funds,” says Aala Ross, Co-Head of the Fund. “If we accept that the Fund exists to redistribute power, not just resources, we can reimagine our role as something more powerful.
We nurture conditions for collective power, we build trust across difference, and we learn together, to challenge the systems that shape our lives.”
Leah Black, Co-Head, adds: “We’re flipping the usual script on funding. We’re saying: here’s the time, here’s the space, here’s the support – now let’s imagine and build the future we actually want.
“That’s what makes this different. It’s rooted in care, equity and collaboration, and it’s led by the people who live and breathe these challenges every day.”
The Regenerative Futures Fund is backed by some of the UK’s biggest charitable funders, including the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The National Lottery Community Fund, The Robertson Trust, Turn2us Edinburgh Trust, Foundation Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council.
Crucially, these funders have stepped back from decision-making, placing control firmly with local people.
City Council Leader Jane Meagher said “Five years ago, Edinburgh became the first UK city to set a target date to end poverty. To achieve this, we must be ambitious and drive the change that is so greatly needed, which means being brave and being innovative.
“We know this is a challenging time for the third sector and we’re working to increase stability for organisations. By giving greater, longer-term support to community projects, they can get on with what they do best – supporting residents, tackling poverty, and changing lives.
“Edinburgh’s Regenerative Futures Fund is a unique new fund to help us achieve just that and end poverty together.
“I’m excited to see a shortlist drawn up by individuals with lived experience of poverty and looking forward to funding awards being presented early next year.”
In September, the wider network of applicants and community groups will come together for the first time to begin a city-wide journey of learning, connection and shared action.
The Fund is also inviting new partners, funders, donors, philanthropists and supporters to join this long-term collaborative effort to reimagine how resources are shared in the city.
For more information, including the list of the 34 projects in the capacity-building phase, visit Services 4 — Regenerative Futures Fund | Working Together Towards A Regenerative And Just Future For Edinburgh | Community Fund | Scotland – UK
PARENTAL EMPLOYABILITY SCOTLAND (PES)
FRIDAY 5th SEPTEMBER 1 – 4pm at NORTH EDINBURGH ARTS
PARENTAL EMPLOYABILITY SUPPORT FUND (PESF)
PESF offers support to:
Taking a holistic Key Worker approach parents are supported to upskill and/or re-train, increasing family income, lifting themselves and their families out of poverty.
The fund provides personalised support for parents who face barriers to progressing their careers, including help to gain qualifications, improving skills or work experience; money advice, and motivational support.
You can read more about the Scottish Government’s plan to eradicate child poverty by clicking on the following link: Every child, every chance: tackling child poverty delivery plan 2018-2022 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Contact your local employability lead to find out more.
Additional help and support is available at www.parentclub.scot/work.
FREE FILM EVENT – SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS 1.30 -3.45pm
THURSDAY 21st AUGUST 10am – 12.30pm
THIS Thursday, meet local politicians and council staff for a walk round the area, with a drink afterwards to discuss things you would like to see improve.
TOMORROW: SONGS OF PROTEST WORKSHOP
TUESDAY 19 AUGUST: PHOTOMONTAGE ART WORKSHOP
ALL WELCOME!
Muirhouse Housing Association has thrown its support behind a new “dementia friendly” film club which involves the magic of the silver screen!
It is being led by “Community Link” based at North Edinburgh Arts Centre who approached the Association for funding from its “Community Chest Fund” to help the film project and promote the Club locally.
The first screening takes place today (Thursday) following a consultation led by Community Link. It found a clear need emerged for a dementia-friendly film club which creates a welcoming, inclusive space where people with dementia and their carers or family members can enjoy a film screening together and connect with others.
The project is launching at the North Edinburgh Arts Centre in a purpose-built 96-seater theatre with the showing of the 1969 classic movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
The free screening is further evidence of Muirhouse’s deep-rooted engagement with the community it serves in north Edinburgh.
Muirhouse’s Community Chest Fund is available for community groups to apply for a grant to carry out projects which benefit tenants and the local community.
Special measures will be taken during the film to meet the needs of people with dementia such as dimmed – but not entirely dark – lighting to reduce anxiety and prevent confusion.
The cinema will not be entirely filled to avoid the presence of a large crowd. There will also be a short interval with light refreshments served.
Based loosely on fact, the film tells the story of two wild west outlaws who are on the run from a crack US law enforcement posse after a string of train robberies.
The film, starring two Hollywood idols – played by the late Paul Newman and sidekick Robert Redford – was an instant hit when it was released and remains a screen classic.
Susan Bell, Chief Executive of Muirhouse Housing Association, said: “Everyone likes a trip to the cinema. So we were delighted to link up with North Edinburgh Arts Centre to deliver this dementia-friendly screening in what is first from Muirhouse
“Dementia friendly screenings are now expected to take place every month. We are thrilled to be supporting such an innovative way to engage members of the community.
“Apart from these dementia-friendly screenings the advent of a cinema in our community, when previously the nearest one is 3.5 miles away, is to be greatly welcomed.”
Earlier this summer, Muirhouse’s community engagement was recognised when it excelled in the Tenant Participation Service (TPAS) Scotland National Good Practice Awards scoring a win in the keenly-contested category for Community Involvement – tenant/community group.
Its triumph centred on the inclusive “Come Dine With Us” initiative – a recurring Muirhouse event offering a free meal and companionship to local residents aimed at tackling isolation and loneliness.
THURSDAY 5th & THURSDAY 19th AUGUST at RWCC
There is also a follow-up Songs of Protest workshop TOMORROW morning (Thursday 31st July) from 10 – 12.30 at North Edinburgh Arts.
Penny Stone will be introducing more protest songs before we get down to writing a few more verses for a new North Edinburgh protest song!
Local Volunteer Recruitment Fair celebrating the diversity of volunteer opportunities in the North West area
Friday 1 August, 10am – 12noon
There will be a lovely diverse mix of volunteer-involving organisations coming along to share their volunteer roles and answer any questions about what volunteering with them is like.
Come along and find out more about local volunteering opportunities.
Note our address: NEA, MacMillan Hub, 12C MacMillan Square, EH4 4AB
