North Edinburgh News – Page 3408 – The NEN

Opportunities for young people at West Pilton Park

Hi All,

We are delighted to announce that Action For Children are taking on one of the West Park Improvement Plans as part of their ‘Community Challenge’ employability initiative. This is a fantastic opportunity for local young people to get involved in carrying out improvements to the woodland in their local area at the same time as developing new skills. It’s a great programme with lots of opportunities for progression. Find more information about the programme below and details on how to refer are attached. Please share around your local networks.

Lianne Pipskyj,

Development Worker- Physical Activity, Pilton Community Health Project

** We are now recruiting for our next Challenge programme at – WEST PILTON PARK**

Could you please share this amongst your colleagues and partners within the North Edinburgh area?

Ideally we would be looking to engage with 13 young people in the local area. If we are not able to fill the 13 places from our group then I may need to open the referral process further to ensure we utilise the spaces.

Challenge October 2016 Intake – Timeline
Closing Date for Referrals	Wednesday 5^th October 2016
One to One meetings with successful candidates	6^th & 7^th October 2016
Programme Commences	Monday 10^th October 2016

***CLOSING DATE FOR REFERRALS is: Wednesday, 5^th October 2016

Referral forms (please ensure you complete the referral form using the barrier definition for which is attached) to be completed and returned to:

E-mail:

nicola.raine@actionforchildren.org.uk

Do not hesitate to contact me on 0131 661 7828 or 0754570136 should you wish to discuss anything.

Nicola Raine

Practice Team Leader, Action for Children

esif-barriers-definitions-1 challenge-edinburgh-west-pilton-park

Committed to care: FM to hear 1000 young voices

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to listen to 1,000 young people with experience of care. Ms Sturgeon met children and young people at Who Cares? Scotland in Glasgow yesterday to kick off a project to improve the lives of children in care.

The 1,000 voices manifesto, put together by Who Cares? Scotland and a coalition of charities, has three aims:

To let young people return to care and to extend aftercare;
To make sure young people who are looked after at home get the support they need;
To make sure more young people have a chance at getting and keeping a job.

The First Minister said: “Every child should have the best start in life and an equal chance to succeed. Yet for far too many young people in care, and through absolutely no fault of their own, that’s not the case.

“Children and young people are the best advocates for change and I am delighted to commit to listen to 1,000 people with experience of care.

“I’ve heard today some powerful stories of incredible strength and success in the most adverse of circumstances. Every person will have a different experience and over the next two years, I’ll spend time meeting many more young people or hearing their stories.

“By listening more to our young people, and by hearing what works and how the care system can improve, we’ll be able to make meaningful, lasting change and ensure children in care get the same support, stability and life chances that the rest of us take for granted.”

Duncan Dunlop, Chief Executive of Who Cares? Scotland said: “We are thrilled to welcome the First Minister today. The commitment to listen to 1000 care experienced voices shows incredible leadership and will set us on a journey that will change the outcomes for care experienced people once and for all.

“The Scottish Government, when passing the Children and Young People Act, did something that had never been done by any Government in the world. They engaged with care experienced people, listened to their stories, and made legislation that addressed the realities of what it’s like to leave care.

“As the most senior corporate parent in Scotland, the First Minister has now set the tone. Decisions can’t and shouldn’t be made without listening to care experienced people. It is this commitment to working together that makes us confident that we are on the road to giving every care experienced person in Scotland the future we would want for our own children.”

Community groups welcome at Anti-Cuts event

Still time to register for Saturday’s conference

Edinburgh Labour Anti Cuts Conference

Saturday 1 October, 9.15 am – 4.00 pm, St Thomas of Aquin’s High School, 2- 20 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh

Hi, a reminder that if you haven’t already done so you can still register here for Saturday’s event:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/edinburgh-anti-cuts-conference-tickets-27190820476

Full details of the event can be found here:

http://www.edinburghlabournorthernandleith.org.uk/community_groups_invited_to_attend_conference_on_council_budget_on_1st_oct_2016

We’d really welcome your attendance and involvement.

A grand gesture!

Local MSP digs deep to support Leith CAB

Leith Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is appealing to the local community to help raise £20,000 for its new office on Dalmeny Street. Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP, Ben Macpherson, visited Leith CAB to pledge his support and made a personal donation of £1,000 to help the cause.

Leith CAB is an invaluable service for the local community and helps over 5,000 clients every year; with over 70 dedicated local volunteers offering their knowledge, skills and expertise free of charge, to help fellow citizens in need with essential, independent advice.

To help continue its vital service in Leith, Citizens Advice Edinburgh (CAE), a volunteer led independent charity, has launched a Crowdfunding campaign to fund Leith CAB’s move from its current office on Bernard Street to new premises on Dalmeny Street. Also supported by local musicians The Proclaimers, CAE aims to raise £20,000.

Yesterday Ben Macpherson MSP donated £1,000 to the campaign in response to CAE’s appeal to the local community to support the charity and help raise these vital funds.

The Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP said: “The Citizens Advice Bureau in Leith provides vital support to many of my constituents as well as to residents right across Edinburgh. That is why I’m proud to support this appeal and to help raise awareness of this important fundraising campaign. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will make a meaningful difference.

“The advice provided by the Citizens Advice Bureau in Leith is, unfortunately, crucial. At a time of continued economic austerity, UK government welfare reform, and significant uncertainty around Brexit, many people in Leith and across Edinburgh are reliant on the free, independent and impartial advice provided by Citizens Advice Bureaus. I will continue to support Citizens Advice Edinburgh and wish them every success with this important fundraising campaign.”

Benjamin Napier, CEO, Citizens Advice Edinburgh said: “We are delighted to have the support of local MSP Ben Macpherson and are grateful for his very generous personal donation. Citizens Advice Edinburgh work closely with all elected members, to help ensure we are dealing with the issues that impact on people’s lives in Edinburgh. Our bureau in Leith is a vital part of the network of support we provide and we hope that others will be encouraged by Ben’s donation to offer whatever they can to help keep this valuable service in Leith.”

Further information and details for anyone wishing to donate can be found at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/cableithfundraiser

Give a helping hand this Halloween

The Scottish SPCA is appealing to kind hearted people in Edinburgh to fundraise on Halloween weekend at their local Pets at Home store. Volunteers are urgently being sought to support the Scottish SPCA by raising funds at Pets at Home stores from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 October.

Scottish SPCA Senior Community Fundraiser Sharon Meiklejohn said, “We’re calling out to all of animal lovers with a bit of spare time during the Halloween weekend to get in touch.

“With support from our Halloween helpers, we’ll be able to rescue animals in danger and distress, find animals new homes, investigate cruelty, help take people responsible for abuse and neglect to court and prevent cruelty through our free education programme for Scottish schools.

“We’ll also provide all volunteers with their very own fundraising pack with everything they need to take part. Volunteers may even wish to get into the Halloween fundraising spirit by dressing up as their favourite animal and they can even bring a canine companion along.

“As a charity that receives no government or lottery funding, we rely entirely on donations to continue our work rescuing and rehoming thousands of animals in Scotland each year.”

John Murasev, a regular volunteer for the Society, said, “I enjoy raising money at my local Pets at Home store to help abused and injured animals in Scotland. It’s a great way to chat to people in my local area and you’ll be surprised at how generous people are!”

For more information on Scottish SPCA fundraising events please email fundraising@scottishspca.org

What a waste!

City becoming Auld Reekie once again?

A war of words is breaking out over the state of Edinburgh’s waste and refuse service. Council leaders are calling on businesses to do their bit to keep the city’s streets and pavements clear but business organisations say the council is using traders as a ‘smokescreen’ to deflect wider waste problems. Continue reading What a waste!

Free Born to Move sessions this Friday

If your child has bags of energy to burn off – then join Edinburgh Leisure for a FREE Born to Move roadshow at Meadowbank Sports Centre on Friday! Continue reading Free Born to Move sessions this Friday

Investing in junior savers

Credit unions will be encouraging children to manage their money through new Junior Savers Schemes, Communities Secretary Angela Constance has announced. Ten credit unions working in areas like Aberdeen, Dumfries and Galloway, West Lothian and Stirling are set to receive a share of nearly £200,000 to set up new projects in schools. Continue reading Investing in junior savers

First for Scotland as Hanover launches online discussion group?

Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association has launched a new Facebook group for their residents, their friends and relatives to share news, views and useful tips and to ask any questions they may have about Hanover’s services.

‘Hanover Blether’ went live on Monday 29 August 2016 and was made a reality after a resident suggested it would be beneficial to have an online ‘hub’ to connect with other Hanover residents and to share their experiences, news about the local community, events and group activities as well as allowing their friends and family to easily interact with their loved ones.

The group is thought to be the first of its kind in Scotland and although it is maintained jointly by Hanover staff and Hanover residents, the group is completely independent and residents are encouraged to share their views on the organisation and about life in Hanover properties, good or bad.

The group also provides another, more informal, way for residents to get in touch with Hanover directly and to ask anything about the organisation and their tenancy. Hanover noted that the group was not to be used in emergencies or to report a repair, when the usual channels should be used.

Hanover resident, Patrick O’Shea, the brains behind the group said: “I thought it would be a good idea to give Hanover residents a platform to raise issues that they may have and to find out about the problems and experiences of other residents. I also felt that there are many good reasons for staying in Hanover and we should talk about those as well.”

Helen Murdoch, Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association Chief Executive, said: “I’m absolutely delighted Hanover Blether is up and running and look forward to seeing the tremendous benefits it will bring to both ourselves and to our Facebook users.

“Resident engagement is a key strategic priority for Hanover. More and more of our service users, their carers and their relatives are online, and Facebook is a great way to communicate, which will in turn help us to work closely with those people we engage with to improve our services. It will also provide a great forum for our residents to share tips and get to know each other.”

Scottish Government welcomes hate crime report

Addressing hate crime should be a priority for the whole of society, according to a new independent report.

The Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion was set up by the Scottish Government last year to examine the issue and their report sets out a number of recommendations on how to help tackle hate crime and prejudice, and build greater community cohesion. This includes the need for stronger partnership working at a national and local level, better data collection on incidents and an approach that is based on prevention and education.

Speaking following the report’s publication on Friday, Cabinet Secretary for Equalities Angela Constance said: “I welcome the work that the Advisory Group has done in producing this report, which contains important messages that we should all reflect on.

“The Scottish Government is committed to doing all that we can to prevent and eradicate hate crime and prejudice, and build community cohesion.

“Let me be clear – there is absolutely no place for bigotry and prejudice in Scotland.

“As a nation, we have a long history of welcoming people of all nationalities and faiths, and we are committed to supporting their integration into our communities. That has assumed even more importance in the aftermath of the EU referendum, when it is vital that we send a message that Scotland remains a welcoming place for all those who have chosen to make this country their home.

“And we will continue to celebrate the fullness of Scotland’s diversity – everyone in Scotland must be empowered to achieve their potential irrespective of race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

“Since 2012, we have invested over £100 million to promote equality and tackle discrimination and we are continuing to work closely with partner organisations to advance our vision of ‘One Scotland’.

“However, I recognise that there is still progress to be made, and we will be carefully considering the recommendations from the Advisory Group in full.”

Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson added: “Everyone has the right to be safe and to feel safe in their communities.

“We already have strong laws to protect against discrimination and I would encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of hate crime to report it to the police immediately.

“Our justice partners are doing important work to raise awareness, engage with communities, encourage reporting and ensure that perpetrators of these unacceptable acts are held to account.

“We are continuing to work closely with our key partners and community leaders to ensure people feel protected in Scotland, and anyone found to be engaging in hate crime will feel the full force of the law.”

Duncan Morrow, Chair of the Independent Advisory Group: “We are very pleased to present our report to the Scottish Government. The Government’s commitment to exploring this issue with people who experience hate crime and its effects has been a very welcome and important indicator of its leadership in this issue.

“We found that hate crime remains an all too real issue with real effects on individuals, families, communities and social cohesion. Attacks spread fear to all those who know that they too could face the same violence, and isolates the victims from the rest of society. This in turn fuels prejudice.

“We know that this issue is taken very seriously in Scotland but we heard from too many that reported hate crime is only part of the story. Our recommendations include recommendations to the Government and for criminal justice agencies, including the police.

“However, addressing the underlying issue means sharing the responsibility more widely. Schools and teachers are often in the front line. Community services at local level can have an important influence. Youth workers, transport providers and community organisations are often in a position to act more immediately and more effectively. Political and community leadership is important. Identifying ways for people to act without putting themselves at risk is important. And exploring the opportunities for restorative justice may also be important.

“We hope that the report allows the Scottish Government to continue with its work in this area by providing positive avenues for action and opportunities for partnership working to address this vital issue.”

The full report can be viewed at http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/09/3565