Two local workers retired last week after thirty years service with the West Pilton-based charity Circle. The popular pair won’t be forgotten, however – Mae and Bob have had trees named after them at Circle’s head office!
Mae Duncan and Bob Griffiths have supported children and young people in the North Edinburgh area for over 30 years and were joined by colleagues, friends and family at a retirement party organised by Circle in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.
Mae, 65, was brought up in West Pilton and now lives in Salvesen, while Bob has lived in the area for 40 years and still lives in Greater Pilton.
Mae attended Pennywell Primary School and then Ainslie Park High School, where she took a course in Commercial Studies. She later studied Child Care at Stevenson College and the Greater Pilton Child Care Centre.
Bob went to Craigentinny Primary School and later to Norton Park Secondary School, which he left at the age of 15 with no qualifications. Like Mae, he studied Child Care at the Greater Pilton Child Care Centre.
The pair ran two projects at Circle. The first was the Inter School Social Education Project (ISSEP), where 5th and 6th year students from Edinburgh secondary schools mentored primary-aged children from North Edinburgh.
The second was the Under Fives, where Mae and Bob worked with children in the Pilton area for 2 – 5 mornings per week and helped parents to understand the importance of boundaries and play in their child’s development.
Reflecting on her time at Circle, Mae said: “I have always thoroughly enjoyed my time with Circle and will always be grateful for the help and support I received whilst doing my child care training.”
Their work at Circle has made a huge impact on the local community, as they have supported many children and parents over the past 30 years. Liz Dahl, Circle’s Chief Executive (pictured above), praised their contribution:
“I would like to take this opportunity to wish Mae and Bob well in their retirement and thank them for the over 60 years of combined service they have given to the organisation. They will be hugely missed by everyone at Circle and especially by the generation of families they have worked with over the years.”
When asked about their favourite memory from their time at Circle, both Bob and Mae said that they have far too many good memories to simply choose one!
Mae and Bob are now looking forward to pursuing their hobbies during their retirement. Mae will read, do crafts and spend more time with her family, while Bob is interested in computers and other gadgets, and will have more time to “potter about with them.” Both may also go on to try new things.
Bob and Mae planted young trees named in their honour at Circle’s HQ in West Pilton Park before they left, and hopefully the wee trees – like their ‘more mature’ namesakes – will be branching out sometime soon!
Best wishes, Mae and Bob – and to little Bob and Mae too!
Sainsbury’s Blackhall are calling on customers to cast their votes and help a registered local charity receive a year’s worth of fundraising and awareness support. From Wednesday 28 May, customers will be able to vote for their favourite local charity either in store or by visiting www.sainsburys.co.uk/localcharity.
The retailer’s Local Charity scheme is now in its sixth year and gives customers the chance to vote for their favourite local charity to be considered to receive a year’s worth of support from their nearby Sainsbury’s store.
This year’s voting ends on Sunday 8 June. After voting closes, a shortlist of nominations will be drawn up and the stores’ colleagues will then invite the three charities that they feel best fit the needs of the community into store to talk about how Sainsbury’s can support them. The chosen charity will be selected based on the reasons given and the store will announce their chosen charity in July.
Local charities that have benefitted from the scheme in previous years at Sainsbury’s Blackhall include The Guide Dogs for the Blind which was Blackhall store’s Local Charity partner between July 2011 and May 2012 and still collect for them. Over £20,000 was raised from the partnership, which helped towards sponsoring 4 guide dog puppies. Meanwhile, the store’s Local Charity partner last year was Maggie’s Centre and the partnership helped to raise over £8,000 and raise awareness of the centre.
Sainsbury’s Blackhall Store Manager George Paton said: “We’re looking forward to supporting a local charity which touches many of our customer and colleagues’ hearts. The scheme gives us the chance to make a real difference to important causes in the community and we hope our customers get behind this year’s voting stage and nominate their favourite local charity from 28 May”.
How do you get your information? How do you find out what’s happening in your local area? TV, radio, newspapers, social media, newsletters, posters, emails, leaflets … there are so many different ways to be kept informed, but what works best for you?
Forth and Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnerships are supporting an initiative to improve local communications, and they need your help to get things right!
How do you currently access information and how would you prefer to receive communications? Please complete the attached online survey at:
It should only take a few minutes to complete or, if you prefer, this can also be done using the printable version (attached below).
If friends or colleagues don’t go online – and many people still don’t have access to a computer – please let them know about the survey; why not print off a copy for them?
But do it soon – the survey closes in two weeks on 31 May!
A group of North Edinburgh activists have got together to save one of the area’s hidden gems. Granton’s walled garden has lain neglected for years, but gardner Kirsty Sutherland and her friends are determined to save the site from redevelopment and return the garden to it’s former glory.
The ‘secret’ walled garden on Granton’s waterfront is very overgrown but it’s still there, somehow still alive surrounded by derelict industrial land.
“A few of us got together last autumn and started researching this garden’s amazing social history. I was inspired by the Never Give Up book created by local activists”, Kirsty explained.
Granton Castle’s garden has been around for over 450 years and survived many changes in the surrounding land – and wars! The castle may have gone, but from 1914 the walled garden was lovingly tended by three generations of one family. However it is now under threat – developers plan to build 17 luxury townhouses on the site.
Kirsty said: “We want to save this rare garden from development, and safeguard its incredible social history dating back to Mary Queen of Scot’s time.
“There is no need for this walled garden to be developed for housing as it is surrounded by vast areas of vacant post-industrial land, much more suitable.”
The Granton Castle Garden Group is appealing to local people to help preserve the site for future generations to enjoy, and they have created an on-line petition.
The group explain: ‘The petition is aimed at raising local awareness of a quite well hidden garden, which many people have never heard of living locally far less elsewhere in Edinburgh. It has a remarkable social history including almost 100 years of being a working market garden owned and run by three generations of one family.
‘Local community gardeners and folk interested in the story put together a list of ideas for the garden too which I am sure could work in harmony with the aims of Granton Improvement Society.
‘Time is what we requested of the development company, to allow local people to hear about the garden and plans to build in it, and add their opinions and ideas.
‘Some really positive ideas have been generated already and discussed by keen gardeners living in Granton and Pilton. They focus on local food production, and environmental education and activities: ideas are bulleted below:
◾Heritage Orchard restoration and expansion.
◾Retail nursery for production of plants with a purpose; fruit, herbs, vegetables, nectar plants and native wildflower species.
◾Base for a local ‘edible garden design’ social enterprise.
◾Medicinal and culinary herbs production for use in a community café and workshops.
◾Permaculture garden design area showcasing planting to combat environmental changes and save water. Forest garden approach.
◾Victorian Glasshouse restoration for use to supply local community gardens and cafes with both winter crops and vegetable plants in spring
◾Beekeeping and honey products.
◾Small scale free range chickens for egg production.
◾Community education workshops centred on gardening, crafts, herbal medicine, environmental education and seasonal food.
◾History/visitor centre combined with the community café showcasing the gardens long and sometimes dramatic history, dating back as far as Mary Queen of Scots time.
◾Oral and visual History of recent horticulture from Victorian era to present day.
Kirsty added: “Please help us stop demolition planning permission before it’s too late. Help raise awareness of this ‘secret garden’, and save two acres of historic greenbelt for future generations!”
Newhaven Gala Day – join our local community celebrations Saturday 24 May, from 12.30 pm at Newhaven Harbour
As many villages around Scotland know, the local gala day is one of the biggest celebrations of the year, and in our village of Newhaven, in a city that attracts performers from about the world, that is really saying something.
For the first time our Newhaven Fishing Folk Choir, will be entertaining the crowds with a mixture of fishing songs and a brand new ‘Song for Newhaven’, created by Jed Milroy and Victoria Primary’s P4 class especially to mark the occasion.
This event is open to – all
Tickets – Free
the disappearing sea – exhibition preview at the Wee Museum Friday 30 May, 5 – 6.30 pm at Victoria Primary School
For the last few months artist Johnny Gailey has been working with staff and pupils at Victoria Primary towards the redisplay the Wee Museum.
Through workshops and visits to archives they have been learning about the history of Newhaven and what did happened to the sea…
Find out more about Fishing Folk and the Wee Museum by joining us for the opening.
The Wee Museum is open by appointment through out the year.
Newhaven History Day – getting together to discuss this place Saturday 31 May, 12 – 4.30pm, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop
Since earliest times Newhaven has been famous for it’s fishing, it’s shipbuilding and – it’s local community identity.
Our Newhaven History Day will gather together some of the voices of this place, residents and experts, to discuss the stories, songs and the rich heritage that is the fisher folks legacy. But as the last generations who remember the fishing industry pass on, how will Newhaven survive into the future?
Inverleith Park was alive with animal-loving celebs yesterday. Why? The local park is very popular with dog-walkers so it was the ideal place to announce some great news for our four-legged friends. Thousands of pets now face a brighter future as PDSA has just been awarded £500,000 from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
The cash boost will be used by the charity’s vets and nurses to extend vital treatment and education programmes across the UK.
Last year alone, over 470,000 pet owners turned to PDSA for help to care for their pets – a figure that has risen by more than 50% in recent years. Annually, it costs over £60 million to run PDSA’s charitable service – all of which is funded entirely by public support and reinforces the fact that the UK is a nation of animal lovers.
PDSA Director General, Jan McLoughlin, said: “We’re delighted to receive this support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery which will make a massive difference to pets’ lives.
“Through our network of 50 pet hospitals and our education work in schools and in communities we’re able to touch the lives of more pets than any other UK animal charity.
“Every single day our amazing team of vets and nurses work flat out to deliver not just life saving treatment but also vital advice and preventive care that gives all pets the chance of healthy, happy lives.”
The funding, made possible by players of People’s Postcode Lottery will be used by PDSA to help support thousands of pets nationwide through education, prevention and treatment.
The charity was joined at yesterday’s cheque presentation – which thankfully took place before the thunder and lightning! – by a number of animal-loving celebrities including members of Britain’s Olympic silver-medal winning Curling squad, skippered by David Murdoch, and People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador, singer Danyl Johnson, at Inverleith.
David Murdoch, Scottish curler and animal lover, said: “As the proud owner of a dog myself I know only too well the joy pets can bring to our lives. I think PDSA is an amazing charity and this funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery will safeguard the lives of thousands of adored pets.”
Singer Danyl Johnson, who owns a spaniel called Darcie, said he was delighted for PDSA. He said: “I have first-hand experience of PDSA’s lifesaving work having visited one of their hospitals last year. The vets and nurses really are unsung heroes, helping all those sick and injured pets that have nowhere else to turn. I’m thrilled that this money is going to such a worthy cause.”
Hazel Johnstone, Trusts Manager at People’s Postcode Lottery added: “People’s Postcode Lottery is a charity lottery raising funds for, and increasing awareness of, charities and good causes. Pets are a huge part of people’s lives and PDSA’s work is a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of pets and their owners in the city and communities nationwide.
“We are delighted that our players are able to provide this support to PDSA, the UK’s leading veterinary charity, to help its vital work.”
North Edinburgh’s MY Adventure and Fresh Start are among eight Edinburgh-based third sector projects to receive a share of £2.1m enterprise funding, it was announced today.
Enterprising third sector organisations will benefit from a further £2.1 million in grants to help them deliver services to vulnerable people in communities across Scotland. The cash, spread between 28 organisations, will be awarded through the Enterprise Ready Fund.
Finance Secretary John Swinney and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess visited Dalry Primary School, to see first hand the work of My Adventure (Edinburgh) Ltd, one of the projects to receive a finance boost through the fund.
Mr Swinney said: “I would like to congratulate all the 28 organisations that have been successful in securing their share of the £2.1 million made available through the latest Enterprise Ready Fund round of awards.
“Each and every one of the recipients are working in their own unique way to become more self-sufficient but more importantly for me, they are creating change at a local level.
“These organisations are excellent examples of how the sector is helping to create a fairer and more inclusive Scotland. This investment will help them deliver important services and opportunities to people across the country.
“My Adventure (Edinburgh) Ltd is a great example of an organisation providing training and employment opportunities to young people who are struggling to find work.
“We are working hard to address these employment challenges for young people through our Opportunities for All, which guarantees everyone aged between 16 and 19 is offered a place in training or education. We have also created thousands of additional Modern Apprenticeship places bringing our total target to 30,000 every year by 2020.”
The Enterprise Ready Fund gives priority to applications that mitigate the effects of welfare reform in Scotland.
Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess said: “For My Adventure (Edinburgh) Ltd this award will give them the opportunity to expand their service and increase their engagement.
“While we are already doing so much to mitigate the effects of welfare reform in Scotland, with independence, a welfare system aligned to our education system can address child poverty and educational under-achievement.
“We want to develop a society that not only provides fair support and decent opportunities for all but also protects the vulnerable in our society. The only way to guarantee that is to have possession of the powers to deliver it.”
The fund is being delivered by a consortium of third sector organisations led by Foundation Scotland in partnership with Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEiS), Developing Strathclyde Ltd (DSL) and Social Value Lab.
Foundation Scotland’s Chief Executive Giles Ruck said: “We have been impressed with the wide range and quality of applications we have received so far, which showcase the innovative ways organisations plan to use their awards to make a real difference to the people and communities they serve.
“I would like to encourage new or developing third sector organisations who are considering applying to the Enterprise Ready Fund to do so before the final closing date of 16th of June.”
Case study: My Adventure (Edinburgh) Ltd
My Adventure (Edinburgh) Ltd provides sustainable short and long term personal development, training and employment opportunities for young people disadvantaged in the labour market. This may be through a combination of factors such as poor literacy skills, a history of anti-social behaviour, limited or no qualifications, or physical or mental health issues.
The organisation works with individuals to train and recruit them to deliver My Adventure’s range of commercial activities, for example climbing, cycling, coasteering, camping and equipment hire.
My Adventure (Edinburgh) Ltd has two full-time staff, three part-time staff, five sessional workers and two volunteers. The organisation will use the Enterprise Ready Fund award of £48,716 to expand its services within the corporate market. It will enable the organisation to purchase a minibus, and recruit a new member of staff who will focus on securing new corporate contracts.
It is expected that the investment will increase engagement and participation by up to 100 young people. The experience, confidence and skills gained by them will improve their chances of gaining long term employment, and improve the sustainability of the organisation, making it less reliant on grant funding in the future.
Jonny Kinross from My Adventure (Edinburgh) Ltd said: “This ERF grant will help ensure the sustainability and growth of My Adventure. By investing in a specific Corporate Sales and Marketing Manager we will be able to forge links with new customers, deliver fantastic opportunities to our clients and most importantly, drive our social impact forward – creating more training and job opportunities for young people.
“This investment will change the lives of 12 young people, who were furthest from the labour market when they joined our team and enable them to deliver activities locally to in excess of 100 children and young people as well as become confident enough to deliver to the corporate sector.
“By investing in social enterprise the Scottish Government is not just ensuring we meet these outcomes this year but will ensure we benefit the people of Muirhouse for years to come.”
The full list of Enterprise Ready Fund awards (Orgamisation, amount and local authority area) announced today:
Almond Valley Heritage Trust £103,772 West Lothian
Atholl Baptist Centre Ltd £117,343 Perth & Kinross
Canongate Youth Project £53,122 City of Edinburgh
Carrick Centre £32,439 South Ayrshire
Community Enterprise £138,632 West Lothian
Community Food Initiatives North East £144,691 Aberdeen City
COPE Ltd £112,312 Shetland Islands
Crossroads (Fife Central) Care Attendant Scheme £64,714 Fife
Footprints Connect £47,900 Aberdeen City
Forth Sector £250,000 City of Edinburgh
Forth Valley Social Enterprises £48,966 Forth Valley
Freespace £79,782 City of Edinburgh
Fresh Start (Scotland) £65,965 City of Edinburgh
Glasgow Watersports £47,374 Glasgow
LINKnet Mentoring £37,250 City of Edinburgh
Livingston Credit Union £33,940 West Lothian
Locavore £50,000 Glasgow
Maryhill Mobile Creche £73,931 Glasgow
My Adventure (Edinburgh) Ltd £48,716 City of Edinburgh
New Caledonian Woodlands £76,110 City of Edinburgh
Promoters Art Network £50,000 Highland
Senscot Legal £54,250 City of Edinburgh
Skidaddle £50,000 Stirling
Social Enterprise in East Lothian £99,376 East Lothian
Spruce Carpets £88,550 Glasgow
Theatre Nemo £47,061 Glasgow
Twechar Community Action £32,469 East Dunbartonshire
Whiteinch Centre Ltd £88,280 Glasgow
Further information and full details of the Enterprise Ready Fund can be found at: http://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/grants-and-funding-for-organisations/what-grants-are-available/enterprise-ready-fund.aspx
Awards and nominations aplenty for Muirhouse Group …
I am happy to confirm that once again the hard work and dedication of the volunteers in TRIM (Tenants & Residents in Muirhouse) and the Community Shop have been recognised by others.
Three awards have been achieved and they will be presented by the Rt. Hon. Donald Wilson Lord Provost of Edinburgh on 4 June at the City Chambers.
The awards are –
Inspiring Volunteer Achievement Award 2014 for the TRIM Team
Inspiring Volunteer Team Award 2014 for the Community Shop volunteers managed by Robert Pearson, and
Inspiring Volunteer Individual Award 2014 for Robert Pearson
TRIM would publicly like to thank its volunteers in whatever role they have – its because of their hard work and dedication that TRIM is successful and able to make a difference in the community.
As well as the three Inspiring Volunteer Awards I can also tell you that Robert Pearson has been selected as one of the short-listed finalists for the Pride of Edinburgh Award. To be nominated for this award in itself is an honour but to be one of the three short-listed finalists is a real achievement so well done Robert and good luck!
The Pride of Edinburgh Award is for someone who may have supported an individual and/or a family, or who has made a significant contribution to the community. The award not only recognises, encourages and rewards people who make a difference within their community but inspires others to do the same.
The award will be made to an individual whose time, effort, support and aspirations have made a significant contribution within their community for the benefit of those who live there.
Advertising is designed to draw your attention, but the ad men must be rubbing their hands at the publicity two totally different billboard ads – one for camping equipment, the other for the European elections – has generated.
The ads – one for GO Outdoors, proclaiming ‘No Poles Required’, and the other for the UKIP political party were placed together on a site on West Granton Road late last month and it seems the stushie’s still simmering.
Local Forth councillors Steve Cardownie and Vicki Redpath both took issue with the juxtaposition of the posters.
SNP councillor Steve Cardownie said : “It’s insensitive. People might think it’s funny, but that’s the kind of message UKIP are trying to get over. You would have thought somebody would have the presence of mind to realise that”.
“When it comes to questions of immigrant workers we have to be very careful. It’s unfortunate and I would urge the tent company to do what they can to repair matters as soon as possible – it’s too dangerous to be funny.”
Forth Labour councillor Vicki Redpath said “It’s probably a stupid mistake where someone hasn’t thought about the consequences, but all sorts of people could take offence”.
UKIP believe it’s a lot of fuss about nothing. A spokesperson said: “I do not believe people are getting upset – I think people will look at it with a wry smile. The posters are two completely different things juxtaposed in a wry way by accident.”
By accident or design? Clear Channel, the company responsible for posters, said they were put up at the same time. A spokesman added: “We can understand why people would make the connection, but at the same time one is for an election campaign on European bureaucracy and the other is an advert for camping supplies.”
Last week Barbara Robertson of the Granton Improvement Society wrote to Go Outdoors to demand that the ‘No Poles Required’ poster is removed. She said: “I am incensed by the advertising you have recently indulged in whereby the ‘No Poles Required’ poster has been displayed next to a UKIP poster in many places all over Britain. I demand that you remove these posters or be vilified as being part of a racist campaign”.
There has been no response so far.
However not everyone is getting hot and bothered over the billboards. One Newhaven man – who preferred not to be named – stopped when I was taking pictures. He said: “I pass these billboards on the way to work every day and to be honest I never usually notice them. It’s harmless enough and I think it’s quite funny. I don’t know what some people are getting all upset about. Will the publicity maybe make more people vote? I doubt it – now you’re having a laugh!”
An innocent little joke, a simple mistake or blatant racist provocation? Whatever your view, two weeks on the posters are still there …
We would love you to join us for a fun event at Madelvic House, Granton Park Avenue, Edinburgh on Saturday 24 May 10am – 12 pm. Lots of family fun with competitions, face painting and refreshments.
Waterfront Edinburgh Limited, City of Edinburgh Council, North Edinburgh Fights Back and Pilton Youth and Children’s Project are all working together to find sustainable, long-term community uses for Madelvic House. It is an important piece of local heritage and we are looking for people who live nearby that would be interested in supporting this project.
We would love to hear your thoughts about what you would like your community hub to include. We hope you’ll be able to join us.
We are keen to speak to as many people as possible, so please pass this invite on to anyone that you think may like to take part.
You can find out more information on Madelvic House and our event which will be held on the 24 May by logging on to:
