There will be at least two local opportunities to celebrate the birth of the Bard next Friday (25th January).
The Prentice Centre in Granton Mains is the venue for an afternoon debate and discussion on Scotland’s future (something Burns himself cared passionately about) while in the evening at North Edinburgh Arts the Transition Group’s latest World Cafe event will have a definite tartan flavour with a menu packed with Scottish favourites.
See flyers below for more details:
LEAP (Lothians & Edinburgh Abstinence Programme) has celebrated its 300th patient graduation since launching in September 2007.
Gail Richardson, 50, is the 300th patient to complete the three-month, community-based rehabilitation programme. She was congratulated and presented with a certificate by Sarah Boyack MSP for Lothian, at a ceremony last Friday.
LEAP is the first abstinence programme of its type in Scotland, which operates seven days a week and provides structured support for those who want to conquer addictions to substances like alcohol and drugs.
Gail has tried to beat her alcoholism for much of her adult life, having lived through two violent marriages, a failed business, an eviction, homelessness, depression and drug use.
She explained: “I wasn’t happy so I thought rehab might be the answer. It was like a sudden realisation that I had to do it for myself, no-one else would. I had to take responsibility.”
Since being admitted to LEAP last October, Gail said that her life has been transformed thanks to the project. She says: “It has changed my life. It has given me a real focus. From here I will go into supported accommodation and then I hope I can find a permanent housing solution.”
While on the intensive programme, LEAP participants receive clinical medical and therapeutic help as well as support with accommodation, education, training and employment opportunities.
LEAP is funded by NHS Lothian and three local Alcohol Drug Partnerships and is operated in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council and Access to Industry (Transition). The project is currently seeking a new base.
Sarah Boyack MSP said: “Gail’s graduation today marks the fantastic collaborative work achieved by herself and all of those at LEAP. Well done to everyone involved and I wish Gail well for the future.”
Clinical Lead of LEAP, NHS Lothian, Dr David McCartney, said: “I’m really proud to be celebrating our 300th graduate in our first six years. Although LEAP is a challenging and demanding programme, it really does have long term, positive impact on not just our graduates, but their friends and families too. We recognise that multiple strands of support are required to conquer the often complex and deep-rooted causes of addictions, and we do this by offering services such as one-to-one counselling and self-help groups.
“We know that evidence points towards recovery being more likely where support is ongoing which is why we facilitate help with aspects like jobs and training. Recovery is a long term process and we also provide aftercare for up to two years further consolidating the hard work our patients have put in.”
In September, Friends of Leap, aimed at raising funds for the project, was launched.
Craigroyston former pupil – and The Spartans honorary patron – Gordon Strachan is expected to be named Scotland’s new manager this afternoon, according to the BBC.
More to follow
Police are looking for help to trace a masked thief who made a knifepoint robbery at a shop in Pilton last night (Sunday). The incident happened at about 20:40 at the Day Today shop in Boswall Parkway.
A 23-year-old man was working behind the counter when the thief demanded money, jumped over the counter and stole a plastic box containing a three-figure sum of cash and international telephone cards worth £200.
The thief is white 20 to 30-years-old, between 5ft 2ins and 5ft 5ins tall and of stocky build. He was wearing a black hooded top with the hood up, light-coloured trousers, black Converse-style trainers with a black balaclava covering his face.
Constable Alistair McLeod, of Lothian and Borders Police, said: “This was a frightening experience for everyone within the store and we are conducting local enquiries to identify the suspect. A male matching his description was then seen within a garden in Pilton Avenue at about 21:00 before making off.
“We are now asking anyone who remembers seeing anything suspicious in either Boswall Parkway or Pilton Avenue on Sunday evening to contact police immediately. Similarly, anyone with any other information that can assist with our investigation is also urged to come forward.”
Last night’s incident follows another knifepoint robbery at St Mark’s Park last Friday.
It was standing room only at North Edinburgh Arts yesterday when local man – and regular NEN contributor – Tony Delahoy celebrated his ninetieth birthday.
Tony, who is originally from London, was joined by friends, family and community colleagues for an afternoon of live music, food and conversation at the Arts Centre. The star of the show remains in good health and has promised to keep those letters coming in for years to come! Speaking of which ….
Dear Editor
According to the Tory/Lib government, because I am now old I am a drain on the economy – a burden on the nation.
Their solution to ease that burden is to restrict what I can buy, by allowing drastic price rises of most items needed, particularly gas and electricity. This continuous lowering of the quality of life will lead to an earlier death for many.
It would seem whatever hardship is imposed, little is being done or can be done; this is wrong thinking – by adding my voice to yours and yours and yours we can, together, change things. Of all people, the elderly know this is a basic truth – it is only through a collective voice that any progress will be made.
This collective voice can be expressed in many ways: through pensioners organisations, forums, trade unions to councillors, MPs and MSPs, demonstrating on issues of concern – even calling for a boycott of stores that are pushing up prices too steeply. There are so many ways of protesting.
As the numbers of elderly people are growing, so is the power of their vote – and it is essential we use it. All politicians, councillors and officials must be made aware they cannot ignore or sideline our serious concerns.
Tony Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens
Happy birthday, Tony!
Poverty and protest go hand and hand
Fighting for a better land
Working class people taking a stand
Against the injustices
Since time began
Porteous Riots at Edinburgh’s gates
This unjust man knew his fate
When he shot these people down
The riots started throughout the town
Look through history you will find
Protests were on people’s minds
The right to have their voices heard
Was what these people so deserved
Throughout the ages we can see
The right to speak was not to be
So the protest did begin to start
To demonstrate came from the heart
Of people who were tired and weary
Of poverty oppression and desperation
So they gathered to mount a demonstration
This was done in many ways through songs and plays
People gathered information through thinkers of their generations
Playwriters Poets Artists Trade Unionists Socialist all
Gathered together to hear the call
Of people who were so unhappy starving homeless
Made them fight which leaders called unrest
Polictians make promises for votes
Once elected they are all forgot
Activists present charters with good intentions
City fathers leading them on
Promises broken What has gone wrong ?
Trade Unions now have no say
Thatcher took all their rights away
She crushed communities even took our childrens milk
Riots on street this women caused
With her unjust brutal laws
Poll tax she tried to impose the Scottish nation angerley rose
To fight the cuts we brought her down
No longer for her to rule with an iron hand
She killed our nation throughout the land
Future governments once elected
Did not repeal the Acts she created
Broken promises once again
When will this torture end ?
Now there will be a referendum for independance
Political parties running scared incase Scotland vote YES
They tell us we are “BETTER TOGETHER ” people know what is best
Scottish people will decide no more Broken promises Unjust cuts
Welfare reforms Prices rising .
No jobs to see beyond the horizon
For our youths there is no future
People shivering in the winter
For many it is heat or eat
Poverty rising at an alarming rate
Homeless people have no hope
This present government is a joke
“BETTER TOGETHER ” ? Better for who ?
Polititians not me or you
Now they are trying to gather the masses
For what ? I believe to save their own asses
Scotland should show the way
Vote differently have your say
Remember all the broken promises
Remember all this on referendum day.
Anna Hutchison (by email)
A new course starting soon at Craigroyston Community High School …
STV has won the new local TV licences for both Edinburgh and Glasgow, the first of the new generation of local broadcasting services to be awarded in Scotland by media regulator Ofcom. The separate licences for Glasgow and Edinburgh will see new services for the two cities broadcast free on terrestrial television.
STV, which holds the Channel 3 licence for North and Central Scotland, will run the services in partnership with universities, providing peak time content including local news and current affairs programming as well as magazine shows.
Bobby Hain, STV Director of Channels, said: “STV is delighted to have been awarded the Local TV licences for Glasgow and Edinburgh. The two services, GTV and ETV, will be delivered in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University and Edinburgh Napier University. GTV and ETV will provide an innovative television service to the communities they serve complementing STV’s existing broadcast, online and mobile services. These new ventures will also provide media students with opportunities to work and learn in a live broadcast environment.”
Professor Dame Joan Stringer, principal and vice chancellor at Edinburgh Napier University, added: “This presents a unique opportunity not only for our students but for the wider community of Edinburgh. The university has a track record of producing top journalism and media graduates who benefit from fantastic facilities and industry-experienced staff. I am sure the contribution of our students will be invaluable to the community programming planned for ETV.”
Ofcom will award up to 21 local TV licences, including Belfast, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Grimsby, Norwich, Nottingham, Sheffield and Southampton. Although not part of the current bidding process, there are another 44 locations where a local television licence is “technically possible”, including Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Ayr.
Following the announcement that local TV licences in Scotland have been awarded to STV, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop said: “I would like to congratulate STV on being awarded the local TV licences for Edinburgh and Glasgow. However, these services – which focus on the two largest centres of population that are already well served by media – should not have been the priority for broadcasting in Scotland.
“The priority should be delivering for viewers in the South of Scotland – who are arguably most in need of local television as they currently receive local news on Channel 3 which is broadcast from Gateshead – and addressing the need for choice in public service broadcasting across Scotland, such as through a publicly-funded Scottish Digital Network.
“The television licence fee has been frozen and top sliced by the UK Government to pay for local television and the Welsh channel S4C, at the expense of audiences across Scotland. This damaging settlement has led to job cuts at BBC Scotland, with up to 120 posts going by 2017 – and these cuts are beginning to bite.
“I am committed to protecting public service broadcasting. Under independence, Scotland would have full responsibility for broadcasting, which provides opportunities to better meet the needs of audiences here while reflecting Scottish life, culture and interests.”
Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses following a knifepoint robbery near St Mark’s Park in Warriston this morning (Friday).
The incident happened at around 7.30am. A 42-year-old man was walking near the entrance of St Mark’s Park when a male on a red motor scooter and another male who was on foot approached him. The male who was on foot then presented a knife and both demanded the man hand over his possessions.
After the victim gave his phone, he fled from the suspects and contacted police. Detectives are now keen to speak with anyone who was in or around the park this morning and can assist with their enquiries.
The first suspect is described as having a slight build and wearing a motorcycle helmet and dark clothing.
The second suspect is described as white, around 18-years-old, 5ft 9ins tall with a slight build. He was wearing a dark hooded top with the hood up, light trousers and a white chequered bandanna covering most of his face.
Both men spoke with local accents.
Detective Constable Graham McIlwraith said: “At no time during this incident was the man assaulted with the knife. Nevertheless, it was a frightening ordeal and resulted in the theft of his phone. We are conducting local enquiries in the area and would urge anyone who remembers seeing the distinctive red Vespa-style scooter, or the suspects to come forward.
“The victim spoke with a man walking his two dogs just after the robbery and this individual may have witnessed the incident. He is asked to contact police immediately. Similarly, anyone who can help us trace those responsible is asked to come forward.”
Those with information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.
Nicky Wheatley
Active Schools Coordinator, Trinity Academy Cluster
