Category: North Edinburgh News

Kevin takes message of freedom from Leith to Basel

Leith based singer/songwriter Kevin Gore, a regular performer at the Edinburgh Fringe and  a well know figure in the Capital’s folk music scene, has displayed  his talents in far flung places all over the world – but his most recent overseas excursion to Switzerland came about through particularly unusual circumstances. Continue reading Kevin takes message of freedom from Leith to Basel

CityFibre drives digital inclusion to top of agenda

CityFibre delivers digital workshops in partnership with Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society’s ‘Fringe Days Out’ scheme

People of all ages from across the Capital have learned the essentials of the modern digital world and how to stay safe online – thanks to CityFibre’s partnership with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. Continue reading CityFibre drives digital inclusion to top of agenda

Time’s running out to have your say on short-term lets

City Council responds to Government consultation

The City of Edinburgh Council has published its response to the Scottish Government consultation on the regulation of short-term lets in Scotland. The consultation closes on MONDAY.

Continue reading Time’s running out to have your say on short-term lets

Go outdoors and join the Big Butterfly Count

Chris Packham is urging wildlife lovers to take part in the world’s largest insect citizen science survey to help reveal if the UK is experiencing a once in a decade butterfly phenomenon.

Unusually high numbers of Painted Lady butterflies have been reported across Europe over the spring and early summer with large numbers now spotted crossing over into the UK. Continue reading Go outdoors and join the Big Butterfly Count

Rapid Rehousing funding increased

An additional £9 million of funding will be provided to local authorities to prevent homelessness and help people into more permanent accommodation. The investment will increase the local authority funding being provided for Rapid Rehousing from £15 million to £24 million over three years.

This will help transform services so people facing homelessness can either immediately, or as quickly as possible, be placed into permanent, stable accommodation with the support they need.

The money is part of the Scottish Government’s £50 million Ending Homelessness Together fund.

Announcing the funding following a visit to an Aberdeenshire shared accommodation service, Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “Temporary accommodation provides an important safety net in a crisis, but we know it is not the solution. 

“The evidence shows what most people need is a settled place to stay where they can rebuild their lives. Where additional support is required, it will be most effective when people are living in a stable home, in mainstream housing.

“This additional funding will help reduce time spent in temporary accommodation and get people experiencing homelessness into appropriate and sustainable housing as quickly as possible.”

Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Communities Committee, Cllr Anne Stirling said: “We are pleased to see some additional funding coming forward to help us tackle homelessness.

“We are committed to ensuring the right mix of housing options across Aberdeenshire and to reducing poverty and inequality across our communities. Our shared accommodation model helps us to ensure there are temporary affordable housing options for those who need it most.”

COSLA Vice President Graham Houston said: “Tackling Homelessness is a key issue for Councils across Scotland. 

“We welcome the extra resource to help local authorities begin to move towards Rapid Rehousing.  We will continue to work in partnership with Scottish Government to ensure Councils have the resources needed.”