North Edinburgh News – Page 3736 – The NEN

Dream big, dream fierce

Spartans volunteers head out to Tanzania

A team of Spartans Community Football Academy volunteers head out to Africa on the journey of a lifetime next week. Three staff and a senior volunteer will join nine young people to spend two weeks working with a support project in Tanzania.

“Our patron Gordon Strachan hosted a very successful charity dinner last year (pictured above), which raised an incredible amount of money. That has enabled us to do a lot of things here at the Academy, including our extension, but it has also given us the opportunity to send a small group from Spartans to help in a project in Tanzania”, explained Kenny Cameron, who is Community Programme Manager at Spartans Community Football Academy.

“We have links with a very successful Edinburgh-based charity called YES (Youth Empowerment through Sport) Tanzania. Their aims and objectives are very similar to our own, and in the past we have sent footballs, strips and boots over there. But now, thanks to the support of some very generous supporters – and the brilliant fundraising efforts of the Spartan Army volunteers themselves – we can take a small group over there to help out.

“The guys will have a very full programme over the two weeks – delivering Young Leader training and a coaching education programme, visiting schools and an orphanage. They will also spend some time in a shanty town and will see first hand the grinding poverty of daily life in what is one of the poorest nations on earth. As you can imagine the facilities are not great in Arusha, where the pilot project is based, so in time we also hope to build a football pitch and fund their development worker post for a year – we can make a real difference.”

Although the Spartans team have a very busy schedule they won’t be working non-stop and they have a real treat to look forward to.

“We have built in an overnight safari as part of the trip. It’s our way of saying thanks to these young people – who all live locally – who have given up a lot of hours of their own time over two and three years to volunteer here with us. It will be an amazing experience, the adventure of a lifetime”, Kenny went on.

“Our motto this year is ‘Dream Big, Dream Fierce’ and the Tanzanian experience kind of sums that up – who would have thought that a wee group of young folk from North Edinburgh could travel halfway across the world and make a difference to peoples’ lives there? The message we are trying to convey to everyone who comes into contact with the Community Football Academy is: Believe – anything can be achieved.

“Tanzania will be an experience our volunteers will never forget, and the hope is that they will pass on what they learned there and share their experiences when they get back to North Edinburgh, inspiring the next generation of Spartan Army volunteers”.

If you’d like to support the Spartans Tanzania initiative visit

https://www.justgiving.com/SpartansTanzania-Appeal

Fresh appeal for missing student

Police Scotland Edinburgh Division is appealing for information in tracing a Russian student who has been missing from her address in the capital for over a week.

Yulia Solodyankina, (22), who has been studying Physics at Edinburgh University, was last seen at the Wee Red Bar in Lady Lawson Street on June 7 and was first reported missing last Wednesday (12 June).

Since her disappearance police have been carrying out extensive enquiries in order to trace her whereabouts, and continue to urge anyone with information to contact them. Her friends have also organised a social media campaign to track her down.

Yulia speaks fluent English with a strong Russian accent, and is described as being of medium build, with long dark brown hair. She is about 5ft 6ins tall, and has a small mole on her left cheek. Her ears are pierced and she wears a number of rings on her fingers, in particular a distinctive thumb ring, which is shaped like a small spoon.

When last seen Yulia was wearing a dark jacket, dark trousers, white trainers and carrying a large dark coloured rucksack which appeared to be full.

Chief Inspector Mark Patterson, of Police Scotland Edinburgh Division, said: “It has been a week since Yulia was first reported missing, and despite our enquiries and appeals for information from the public, we still have no information as to her current whereabouts.

“Yulia’s father had travelled to Edinburgh to visit his daughter and help plan her graduation celebrations, but instead he is distraught by her disappearance, and has left the Capital without ever making contact with her.

“We have been heartened by the level of interest in her disappearance, helped by her friends organising their own appeals through social media, and we remain keen for any information that can help us trace her whereabouts.

“I would urge anyone who has seen or heard from Yulia since she went missing, or who has any other information that can help us, to contact Police Scotland on 101, or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

New report shows widening poverty gap

The wealthiest households in Scotland are 273 times richer than the poorest – Oxfam

A new report by Oxfam Scotland says that instead of tackling inequality and poverty in Scotland, the existing economic model is making them worse and needs to change. Our Economy: Towards a New Prosperity says too much power and wealth is held by too few people.

The report challenges politicians, policymakers and businesses to focus on what is really good for the country rather increasing economic measures like Gross Domestic Product , and argues that for too many Scots work is no longer a route to a better life. Some 40% of those living in poverty in Scotland are in work – a figure that has risen substantially in recent years.

It also highlights the growing inequality at the heart of our economy, with the wealthiest households in Scotland 273 times richer than the poorest households.

Judith Robertson, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “The existing economic model is not working. Despite decades of economic growth, and a myriad of anti-poverty policies, the reality for too many Scots is a cocktail of high mortality, economic inactivity, mental and physical ill-health, poor educational attainment, and exclusion from the decisions that affect them.

“This is a structural problem caused by our economy. If we are serious about tackling these issues, then our politicians and policymakers need to make a fundamental change. Without that change, poverty and inequality will continue to shame us and drag all of us down for generations to come.”

paper outlines a series of policies which together challenge economic behaviours which damage Scotland’s collective prosperity, whilst promoting positive interventions.

The report is based on Oxfam’s work with local partners in Scotland. It shows that people in local communities have the appetite and ability to start building local economies that meet their needs, but need more help from government and greater recognition that their contribution goes beyond profit.

The proposals contained in Our Economy include:

Putting a duty on all public authorities to make sure their policies and initiatives reduce poverty and inequality – monitored by a new Poverty Commissioner for Scotland.
Building on the work of the Oxfam Humankind Index for Scotland to create a new measure of economic success, beyond GDP, which reflects what really matters to people.
Creating a Scottish Ethical Business Initiative (SEBI) setting out key aspects of acceptable behaviour for businesses operating in Scotland.

Judith Robertson added: “We need to create a new prosperity that will benefit everyone in society.

“At the heart of this new prosperity would be community-led economies which focus on the quality and distribution of growth – creating livelihoods for the many, not profits for the few. Our Economy shows this is practical and achievable. We just need the will to work together to make it happen.”

Our Economy is being launched today at Oxfam partner The GalGael Trust, which provides training in traditional woodworking skills for people left without work for long periods of time.

Gehan Macleod of GalGael said: “The current economic structure simply doesn’t provide enough good jobs. Our experience shows it isn’t people from under-resourced communities that are deficient, it is the economy which is deficient in providing opportunities for all – opportunities that recognise people’s inner need to contribute to their communities as well as their outer need for a living wage.

“We’ve seen time and again how those who’ve been labelled work-shy or unemployable love to graft if there is respect and dignity in the work. That is what the work in Our Economy looks like.”

The report has won support from across Scottish civil society.

Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary, said: “If Scotland is to rebuild a fairer, more equal and sustainable economic and social model it is essential that strong civic voices contribute to the debate. This report, covering key areas such as employment and tax, forms one such contribution. Policymakers at all levels should take note and act”.

Martin Stepek, Chief Executive of the Scottish Family Business Association, said: “I applaud Oxfam Scotland for producing the challenging and radical Our Economy report. The current situation is morally and socially unacceptable. We have to change some fundamentals to create a fairer, happier society for all.”

James Proctor, Strategic Relations Officer at Co-operatives UK, said: “Scotland was the birthplace of early co-operative enterprise and the principle of working together for shared benefit is a fresh and vital one for our times. We warmly welcome this call for a new model of wealth creation, based on co-operative values of openness and equality.”

EWE’ve got to be joking! Drylaw bench is MOOving out!

Drylaw’s lonesome stone bench is moo-ving on to pastures new. The striking stone bench – which features the heads of a sheep and a bull (or maybe a ram and a cow!) to signify the area’s past use as farmland – will make the short journey east from Drylaw Field to a new home at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre after repeated attacks by vandals.

The stone bench was the centrepiece of an upgrade to Drylaw Field six years ago – the bench was unveiled by then Lord Provost George Grubb in September 2007 (pictured below).

Almost since it’s introduction, however, the sculpture has been the targeted by vandals. It’s been spray-painted, graffiti has been scrawled on it, attempts have been made to set it on fire and it’s been physically attacked with rocks and boulders – it now looks like it has gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson and it’s a sorry sight (below).

Given the punishment the animal seat has taken over the years, Drylaw Telford Community Council has reluctantly decided to find a safer new home for the beast.

“It’s sad that we’re having to do this, but the bench was being slowly but surely destroyed and the community council agreed that this was the only course of action we could take”, said Alex Dale, chair of Drylaw Telford Community Council. “I spoke to Roy Douglas, manager at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre and they are happy to take the bench there. The bench won’t be as visible as it was in Drylaw Park, but local residents will still be able to see it when they visit the Centre and at least it will be safer there – the Neighbourhood Centre has CCTV and other security measures so we hope there may be a good few years left yet in the Drylaw bench.”

Staff at the city council’s North Local Office will supervise the move later this month. It’s not known at this stage whether officers from the Scottish SPCA will also be in attendance.

Spartans set for new Lowland League

The Spartans will be among the twelve clubs selected to compete in the new Scottish Lowland Football League, the Scottish Football Association has announced.

Twenty-seven clubs from the East of Scotland and South of Scotland Leagues, as well as members of the Scottish Junior Football Association, expressed an initial interest before 17 formal applications were submitted.

The new league is part of the major restructuring of Scottish football which includes plans for play-offs between teams from the Scottish Third Division, the Scottish Lowland Football League and the Scottish Highland Football League from the end of season 2014/15.

Joining Spartans in the new Lowland League are Dalbeattie Star, East Kilbride, Edinburgh City, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Gretna (2008), Preston Athletic, Selkirk, Threave Rovers, University of Stirling, Vale of Leithen and Whitehill Welfare.

The Project Steering Group, made up of the Scottish FA Executive, licensing committee and club representatives, selected the twelve succesful applicants based on their ability to meet Scottish FA club licensing criteria and their decision will be ratified by the Board of the Scottish FA at its meeting on 27th June.

Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for all 12 clubs, and another step forward for league reconstruction in Scotland. It’s important that ambitious clubs are given opportunities to progress. With the Scottish Lowland Football League running in tandem with the Scottish Highland Football League from next season, we are on track to create a pyramid system feeding into the senior leagues.

“The hard work now continues with the creation of the new league board, appointment of office bearers and detailed planning ahead of the start of the new season in August. On behalf of the Scottish FA, I wish all 12 clubs the very best of luck for the new season and beyond.”

Broken Hearts

It was inevitable. And while the international wrangling over who should administer the process may go on today, be clear – Hearts are going into administration.

The fragile edifice that was the complicated financial world of Vladimir Romanov has finally come crashing down. First Ukio Bankas, then UBIG and now – Heart of Midlothian FC, formed in 1874.

It seems hard to believe now, but when Lithuanian businessman Vladimir Romanov took control at Tynecastle back in 2005 there were some who welcomed him as a saviour. Now, eight years and SIXTEEN managers later, dreams of building a side to challenge the might of the Old Firm at home, and the cream of Europe abroad, lie in tatters. The challenge now is simply to stay alive.

In a game that lives by clichés, it’s been a rollercoaster ride. From the highs of Scottish Cup wins in 2006 and 2012, European adventures – and a 2005/6 season that might even have seen Hearts crowned SPL champions if only Vlad hadn’t started meddling with team selections and sacking managers – to the lows of unpaid bills, unpaid wages and now the ignominy of liquidation, there’s never been a dull moment under Vlad’s reign; for a while he was the man who gave the Hearts fans a dream.

But now, though, the dream is well and truly over. In the cold light of day reality has kicked in and the scale and complicated nature of Hearts’ predicament is truly frightening.

The Club owes £25 million to two of Romanov’s other companies – UBIG and Ukio Bankas, both of which went into liquidation last month, thus bringing the financial woes at Tynecastle to a head. Hearts also owe an undisclosed amount to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, having only partially paid an outstanding tax demand for £50 million, and last week the club’s players and staff found that their wages and salaries would not be paid on time.

Against this background the entire Hearts squad was put up for sale last week and an appeal went out to fans – unsurprisingly, despite Hearts’ fans undoubted loyalty, season ticket sales have been slow.

So what happens next? There are a number – perhaps as many as four – serious prospective purchasers, but meaningful negotiations have been hampered by the club’s complicated financial setup. What exactly would potential investors be getting for their money – what are the assets, and what potential time bombs may be unearthed within the club’s accounts? Until that becomes clear, it’s unlikely that any bid will be forthcoming.

While fans loyalty has been stretched to the limit they continue to rally to the cause, but they too should think before committing their own hard-earned cash: by donating money are they supporting the survival of and future of the team they love, or are they pouring cash down the drain as lawyers and accountants pick over the carcass of a once great club and argue expensively back and forward between Edinburgh and Vilnius?

While the current situation is bleak, it’s certainly not hopeless and Hearts will surely survive in some form. A fifteen point deduction at the start of the forthcoming season is probably the least of their worries; after all, SPL chiefs will surely at long last restructure the league setup at the end of the season, because the current ‘model’ certainly isn’t working.

For Hibs fans who are revelling in the Jambo’s current plight, I would only ask: what are the games you look forward to most every season, the games that get your pulse racing and your mouth dry with nervous anticipation? No, Kilmarnock or Ross County don’t really do it for me, either. Take away the Edinburgh derbies and the whole season is not quite meaningless, but seriously devalued. Derby games may well be p*sh – and they usually are – but there’s atmosphere and excitement that is lacking at so many other games. So should the unthinkable happen, I for one won’t be gloating.

And for fans of other clubs, beware – given the parlous state of football finances in Scotland, it could well be your lot next.

Good luck, Hearts. Here’s hoping you’ll aye be ‘making your mark’ for a good few years yet.

By the way, those managers were: John Robertson, Steven Pressley/John McGlynn, George Burley, John McGlynn, Graham Rix, Valdas Ivanauskas, Eduard Malofeyev, Riabouas Eugenijus, Valdas Ivanauskas (again), Anotoly Korobochka, Stephen Frail, Csaba Laszlo, Jim Jeffries, Paulo Sergio, John McGlynn (yes, once again!) and Gary Locke.

For one night only: Alice at Craigroyston

Craigroyston Community High School will be staging ‘Alice in Wonderland’ TONIGHT at 7pm.

Marie McGarrol, drama worker at Craigroyston Community High School, said: “Craigroyston Community High School’s senior Drama club is putting on a public performance of Alice in Wonderland at the school tonight at 7pm, adult tickets £2, children’s tickets £1.50. The students involved would really appreciate any external support as the school as not seen a performance of this nature for many years. Please could you pass this email on to your colleagues that work in the area”.

For further information contact Craigroyston Community High School:

Telephone:      0131 477 7801
Email:         Admin@craigroyston.edin.sch.uk
Web Address:      www.craigroyston.edin.sch.uk

Three cheers as local companies win Queen’s Award for Enterprise

Three cheers as local companies win Queen’s Award for Enterprise

Mark Lazarowicz, MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, has written to congratulate three businesses based in the constituency who have just won the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise. The companies are:

· HotDocs a document automation software company

· Petroleum Experts Ltd which develops petroleum-engineering software programs used to model and manage oil and gas fields, and

· The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company Ltd which produces speciality beers extremely popular in Canada, Sweden and the USA (as well as course in the UK!)

Mark (pictured below) said: “Three of the 13 Scottish winners of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise are based in Edinburgh North and Leith which is a success that we can be very proud of. All three – HotDocs, Innis & Gunn and Petroleum Experts – have managed to achieve major export growth at a time when the UK, like other countries, is keen to rebalance its economy and increase export sales.

“The Awards also highlighted their investment in product development as a major factor in that success which is why it is so important to ensure that SMEs can get the funding they need. It’s good to see that we have three local companies which appear to be so forward-looking and successful in developing products that the rest of the world wants to buy.”

This year there are 152 winners of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, 13 of which are based in Scotland.

The Queen’s Award is the UK’s most prestigious award for business enterprise and the winners will be celebrated at events at Buckingham Palace and the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) on 23 July.

Adult Learning Success for North Edinburgh

We’re really pleased to report the success of two local groups during adult learners’ week, an international event celebrating and promoting the benefits of adult learning (write CLD workers Sarah Low and Lynn McCabe).

The highlight of the week is the Adult Education Awards ceremony. Over thirty groups across the city were nominated in eight award categories. Forth councillors Vicki Redpath and Cammy Day were at the City Chambers last month to help present the awards. Of the eight successful groups, two were from North Edinburgh: the ‘Use Your Loaf’ (pictured above) bread making group and the North Edinburgh Social History Project.

The selection panel were ‘inspired’ by the bread making group, who won the ‘Health and Well Being’ award. The ‘Use Your Loaf’ group is a Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP) supported group, in partnership with CLD and North Edinburgh Arts.

Every week, the group (and their children!) meet in the Arts Centre with Lisa Arnott from PCHP and Sarah Low from the local CLD team to make loaves of bread (or rolls, naans, pitas, pizzas and deli breads). Whilst the dough was proving and baking, the group planned their own healthy community event: The Yummy Food Festival. The Festival took place in North Edinburgh Arts Centre in March this year and attracted 500 local people who enjoyed amongst many things, cooking demonstrations, workshops and a community ‘bake off’.

Learners from the group are being supported to develop a second bread making course which will run in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre in October, so watch out for more details! Two members of the original group have gone on to volunteer in North Edinburgh Arts Centre café and others have taught bread making in the local nursery. The learners will also be sharing their skills with others during the PCHP supported Food for Thought Forum’s Summer Programme at Forthview’s summer gala and with PCHP’s Women Supporting Women project.

Like to get involved? Call Lisa Arnott at PCHP on 551 1671 for details.

The North Edinburgh Social History Group began two years ago and was set up by community activists who wished to re-engage with the community and re-establish community participation and activism. They meticulously researched the history of the North Edinburgh community, producing a brilliant booklet and exhibition called “Never Give Up”, a record of the community’s fight for social justice.

The social history group won the ‘Political and Social Education’ award. Accepting the award, members of the group were keen to mention the longstanding history of protest in north Edinburgh, and dedicated their award to their friend and fellow activist Brian Robertson, a member of the group and committed community activist who sadly died just a few days before the Awards Ceremony.

Some members of the group are now part of a course called ‘Power to the People’, which meets in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Tuesday mornings. This ambitious course aims to cover the history of protest in Scotland over the past 300 years! In doing so, the group have been out and about on study visits to the National Gallery, the People’s Palace in Glasgow and the NationalMiningMuseum. If you’d like more information, please call local CLD worker Lynn McCabe, who runs the course, on 552 5700 (see Lynn’s piece on the group below).

The Outstanding Achievement Award went to the Bumpstart Pregnancy Café in Leith (pictured above). The Pregnancy Cafe is a relaxed group in which pregnant women and their partners meet other parents to be to talk about pregnancy and parenting. One learner described the tutors as always being there for her, and the other group members ‘like second mums’. Pregnant women in north Edinburgh are welcome to come along to their very own Pregnancy Café, on Tuesdays from 11 till 12.30 at the Haven (in CraigroystonPrimary School, Muirhouse Place West). Just turn up, or call Jo Aitkenhead on 537 4230 for more details.

Congratulations to all the learners involved on their achievements!

Sarah Low

Award for Power to the People

Having completed their successful project called ‘Never Give Up’, which documented the history of activism in North Edinburgh over the last 70 years, members of North Edinburgh Social History Group came up with a proposal for a new project called ‘Power to the People’. The group were keen to continue their research into activism but this time widened the scope of their research to cover the history of protest in Scotland during the last 300 years! To add to the challenge, the group decided that they wanted to use the arts to explore this hidden history.

The course began on 28 August last year and has proved very successful with fifteen people regularly attending each session in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre. Some of the topics the group have studied so far include: the Jacobite Rebellion, The Scottish Enlightenment, the Friends of the People, the Radical War, Chartism, The Campaign for the Abolition of Slavery, the Campaign for Land Reform, the Suffragette Movement, the Scottish Hunger Marches and Red Clydeside.

The group’s learning has not been confined to the classroom. They have been out and about and have been on study visits to the National Gallery of Scotland, the NationalMuseum in Chamber Street, the Portrait Gallery, the People’s Palace in Glasgow and the NationalMiningMuseum. During their studies, they also managed to fit in making a short film for the BBC’s learning site called ‘Paintings and Protest’ which is worth a wee look. The course is due to finish at the end of June but there are already plans underway for a new course on issues for the Referendum in the Autumn, a publication on the History of Protest similar to Never Give Up and a community event celebrating the group’s achievements in North Edinburgh Arts Centre. Watch this space!

In recognition of their role in developing this very important course, the organisers of the event gave the award for Social and Political Education to North Edinburgh Social History Group.

Members of the group and participants involved in the Power to the People course have dedicated the award to their friend and fellow activist, Brian (Elvis) Robertson who died a few days before the award ceremony.

Lynn McCabe

Corstorphine Hill murder: do you recognise these rings?

Police Scotland detectives investigating the discovery of a woman’s remains on Corstorphine Hill in Edinburgh today released images of four rings belonging to the victim.

Detective Chief Inspector Keith Hardie said: “Responses to previous appeals for information on this woman’s identity have been encouraging. And while we are following up calls and information from all over the UK, we have still to make a real breakthrough in identifying the victim.

“As I have previously said, distinctive rings found with the woman may provide a real clue to her identity. Today we are now in a position to release images of those rings. Two are particularly distinctive – one in the shape of a daisy and one in the shape of a heart. Both are gold and are set with precious stones. I would ask anyone who recognises these rings or, who has seen someone they know wearing rings like these, to add that detail to the other things we know about the woman.”

The woman was believed to have been aged between 32 and 60 and had had extensive cosmetic work, in the form of veneers and implants, carried out on her teeth. She was white, slim, of medium build and about 5 feet 2 inches tall.

All of the rings are old but are not thought to have significant value.

One of the items belonging to the victim is a traditional Irish claddagh ring, which police said is also popular within the travelling community – but police are not drawing any conclusions from this. The heart of the claddagh ring was facing towards the body, which traditionally means the wearer has a partner.

DCI Hardie added: “We are committed to identifying this woman. We have followed up more than 80 calls and, while we are extremely grateful for the information provided, we still await that real gateway call. We are keeping an open mind on this woman’s background and history. But I am determined to uncover the information that will enable us to identify the victim and then identify those responsible for her murder.”

Police Scotland have cast their net far and wide in their attempts to identify the victim – they have contacted Europol and have also discussed the murder with colleagues in Ireland. Ten days on from the discovery of the dismembered body, however, the woman’s identity remains a mystery and police still hope that members of the public may yet be able to assist with the investigation.

Chief Inspector Murray Dykes, of Police Scotland Edinburgh Division, said: “High visibility patrols continue on Corstorphine Hill and the surrounding area and members of the public are encouraged to approach these officers if they have any information they want to bring to our attention.”