Fresh Start’s Meet & Eat sessions have been so successful that we are now adding an additional session on Wednesday evenings, starting tomorrow, Wednesday 26th October!
The Wednesday Meet & Eat will be a dinner time meal, between 5-6.30pm and will ensure local people and families have a hot meal in a cosy, friendly setting.
Remember, Meet & Eat is a FREE service and open to all.
Please share around your networks and tell your friends!
The Edinburgh Remakery has been granted £10,000 as part of the Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards.
The latest phase of the Movement for Good Awards will see more than £500,000 in funding be awarded to 31 charities working across the climate change and environment, education and skills, heritage and arts and rural and community sectors.
The Scottish based charity is an award-winning environmental social enterprise committed to creating a culture of sustainable, waste-free living and protecting the planet for future generations.
The £10,000 funding will go towards the charity’s Tech Exchange for Community Hubs project, which will gift up to 200 refurbished electronic devices to 10 Community Hubs, giving their beneficiaries essential access to digital support and services and replacing old devices with newer, higher quality, refurbished ones.
The awards are designed to help charities make a real difference in their communities and beyond. More than 500 charities applied for the funding with the winning projects being selected against four criteria: impact and effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and care and compassion.
Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: “At Benefact Group we believe business should be a force for good. More than ever, charitable causes need sustained support and a sense of financial stability.
“Through our Movement for Good larger-grant awards, we are championing a more imaginative way of supporting charities so that they can have some certainty in these challenging times. We know our funding can be a lifeline to those who are struggling with cost-of-living increases and a grant of this scale can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do.
“Benefact Group is the fourth largest corporate donor in the UK and has an ambition to be the biggest. Owned by a charity, all our available profits go to good causes, and the more the Group grows, the more the Group can give. As a company whose purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society, charitable giving is at the heart of what we do.”
Elaine Brown, CEO of The Edinburgh Remakery Ltd, said: “The Edinburgh Remakery social enterprise is committed to supporting people in our communities whilst creating positive change for our planet.
“We reduce waste by taking in old electronics to be refurbished and reused, we reduce carbon emissions by providing affordable and eco-friendly alternatives to buying new, and we support our communities by providing people in need with gifted tech devices and valuable life skills to improve employability, confidence and wellbeing.
“Thanks to the Movement for Good funding, we are able to further our mission and help even more people whilst reducing waste and helping our planet at the same time.”
Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.
Join us on Saturday 29th October at the Edinburgh Remakery where a collection of 10 designers share their antidote to fast fashion with one collective vision in an exciting live fashion show.
We’ll also be raising money for the Edinburgh Remakery to reintroduce their free drop-in Sewing Repair Sessions – open for anyone to join who wants help to mend, alter or reimagine their clothing or textile items.
We want to make repair skills and services accessible to everyone in Edinburgh, which is why we want to keep these sessions free; to help people learn new valuable skills, gain confidence, and meet other like-minded individuals in our community.
Find out how you can help and support our free sewing sessions here.
A talented five-year-old dancer performed a ceremonial ribbon-cutting this week as Motorpoint – the UK’s largest independent retailer of nearly new cars and vans –strengthened its growing nationwide network with the official opening of its new store in Edinburgh.
Young Highland dancer Rosie did the honours after performing with fellow dancers from the Dunedin Dance Academy at an event celebrating the opening of the brand’s second retail outlet in Scotland and its 18th in the UK.
As well as dance performances, Motorpoint Edinburgh, which is located on Baileyfield Road in Portobello, also hosted a ‘live’ art installation with acclaimed grime artist Ruddy Muddy. Throughout the day, he created a stunning image of the world-famous Edinburgh Castle and Greyfriars Bobby in the mud on the side of a Mercedes Benz Vito van.
Visitors to the store were also treated to a stirring musical treat with a performance of piping from the Pipers of Edinburgh, while the store also announced that St Columba’s Hospice Care in Edinburgh is their nominated charity partner for the year.
Richard Start, Regional Retail Director at Motorpoint Edinburgh said: “We were delighted to be able to mark the opening of our latest store in such an inspirational and cultural way and having Rosie perform the ribbon-cutting made it extra special.
“The whole official opening event had a fabulous family feel and it was a joy to have the dancers from the Dunedin Dance Academy, grime van artist Ruddy Muddy, the Pipers of Edinburgh and Paw Patrol with us to provide some great entertainment for our customers.”
Richard added: “Despite a nationwide shortage of new and nearly new vehicles we have been able to ensure that Motorpoint Edinburgh has the widest possible range of the makes and models that local motorists want the most and all are available to drive away the same day.
“Motorpoint Edinburgh is also proud to bring the brand’s ‘never beaten on price’ promise to the city, helping to deliver market-leading value for car buyers at a time when every penny counts.”
Find out more about Motorpoint Edinburgh here
Good morning, I have just been to Buckingham Palace and accepted His Majesty The King’s invitation to form a government in his name.
It is only right to explain why I am standing here as your new Prime Minister.
Right now our country is facing a profound economic crisis.
The aftermath of Covid still lingers.
Putin’s war in Ukraine has destabilised energy markets and supply chains the world over.
I want to pay tribute to my predecessor Liz Truss, she was not wrong to want to improve growth in this country, it is a noble aim.
And I admired her restlessness to create change.
But some mistakes were made.
Not borne of ill will or bad intentions. Quite the opposite, in fact. But mistakes nonetheless.
And I have been elected as leader of my party, and your Prime Minister, in part, to fix them.
And that work begins immediately.
I will place economic stability and confidence at the heart of this government’s agenda.
This will mean difficult decisions to come.
But you saw me during Covid, doing everything I could, to protect people and businesses, with schemes like furlough.
There are always limits, more so now than ever, but I promise you this
I will bring that same compassion to the challenges we face today.
The government I lead will not leave the next generation, your children and grandchildren, with a debt to settle that we were too weak to pay ourselves.
I will unite our country, not with words, but with action.
I will work day in and day out to deliver for you.
This government will have integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level.
Trust is earned. And I will earn yours.
I will always be grateful to Boris Johnson for his incredible achievements as Prime Minister, and I treasure his warmth and generosity of spirit.
And I know he would agree that the mandate my party earned in 2019 is not the sole property of any one individual, it is a mandate that belongs to and unites all of us.
And the heart of that mandate is our manifesto.
I will deliver on its promise.
A stronger NHS.
Better schools.
Safer streets.
Control of our borders.
Protecting our environment.
Supporting our armed forces.
Levelling up and building an economy that embraces the opportunities of Brexit, where businesses invest, innovate, and create jobs.
I understand how difficult this moment is.
After the billions of pounds it cost us to combat Covid, after all the dislocation that caused in the midst of a terrible war that must be seen successfully to its conclusions I fully appreciate how hard things are.
And I understand too that I have work to do to restore trust after all that has happened.
All I can say is that I am not daunted. I know the high office I have accepted and I hope to live up to its demands.
But when the opportunity to serve comes along, you cannot question the moment, only your willingness.
So I stand here before you ready to lead our country into the future.
To put your needs above politics.
To reach out and build a government that represents the very best traditions of my party.
Together we can achieve incredible things.
We will create a future worthy of the sacrifices so many have made and fill tomorrow, and everyday thereafter with hope.
Thank you.
Our next Community Council Meeting is tomorrow – Wednesday 26th October – 7pm at the Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre. All welcome.
Last months minutes can be found on our website:
Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) has released their annual Impact Report for 2021 – 2022. In this Impact Report, we highlight some of the major achievements from the year and how we have delivered on our duty as a Corporate Parent.
Key elements of this year’s Impact Report include:
– Partnering with the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, Scottish Government and The Promise Scotland to form the Hearings System Working Group, which delivered its Issues List in March,
– Celebrating 50 years of Hearings in April 2021,
– Launching our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy,
– Launching the CHS Promise Programme, which is a cross-organisational project that includes all the work we are doing locally and nationally to improve the hearings experience for children, young people and families,
– Adapting to various significant changes to the laws around children’s hearings, including the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 which ensures brothers, sisters, people with brother/sister-like relationships are given new rights in hearings,
And most importantly, despite the ongoing challenges brought by the pandemic, the provision of over 21,000 hearings which took place to support and protect nearly 11,000 children in Scotland.
National Convener and CEO, Elliot Jackson, said: “The CHS Impact Report shows the work and reflection of the dedication and contribution of our Panel Member and Area Support Team volunteers and CHS National Team staff.
“As we progress with our vision for the future of the Children’s Hearings System it has been a privilege to look back and see what we have achieved over the last 12 months and look forward to seeing how we shape the next phase especially our focus on improving the hearings system through the Hearings System Working Group”.
Over the course of this year, we worked with our volunteers and partner organisations to listen to and help support and protect nearly 11,000 children.
As we go forward, and look towards how we can further improve the Hearings System, we are committed to putting the voice of children and young people at the centre of everything we do, and to working together to make Scotland truly the best place to grow up in.
A cafe run by national sight loss charity RNIB Scotland at its Edinburgh base in Hillside Crescent is extending its opening hours to offer a warm space to blind and partially sighted people during weekdays, from 10am to 4pm.
Jane Coates, the charity’s community connection manager, said: “We’re very conscious that many people with sight loss might be particularly hard hit by the cost of living crisis. So we want to do our bit to offer a safe, accessible and friendly environment where they can socialise.”
Other members of the public are also welcome to drop in to purchase hot drinks and snacks between 10.30am and 3.30pm.
At present, however, payment can only be made by card or phone.
It has been a huge honour to be Prime Minister of this great country.
In particular, to lead the nation in mourning the death of Her Late Majesty The Queen after 70 years of service,
and welcoming the accession of His Majesty King Charles III.
In just a short period, this government has acted urgently and decisively on the side of hardworking families and businesses.
We reversed the National Insurance increase.
We helped millions of households with their energy bills and helped thousands of businesses avoid bankruptcy.
We are taking back our energy independence…
…so we are never again beholden to global market fluctuations or malign foreign powers.
From my time as Prime Minister, I am more convinced than ever we need to be bold and confront the challenges that we face.
As the Roman philosopher Seneca wrote: “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare. It is because we do not dare that they are difficult.”
We simply cannot afford to be a low growth country where the government takes up an increasing share of our national wealth…
and where there are huge divides between different parts of our country.
We need to take advantage of our Brexit freedoms to do things differently.
This means delivering more freedom for our own citizens and restoring power in democratic institutions.
It means lower taxes, so people keep more of the money they earn.
It means delivering growth that will lead to more job security, higher wages and greater opportunities for our children and grandchildren.
Democracies must be able to deliver for their own people…
We must be able to outcompete autocratic regimes, where power lies in the hands of a few.
And now more than ever we must support Ukraine in their brave fight against Putin’s aggression.
Ukraine must prevail.
And we must continue to strengthen our nation’s defences.
That is what I have been striving to achieve… and I wish Rishi Sunak every success, for the good of our country.
I want to thank Hugh, Frances, Liberty, my family and friends, and all the team at No10 for their love, friendship and support.
I also want to thank my protection team.
I look forward to spending more time in my constituency, and continuing to serve South West Norfolk from the backbenches.
Our country continues to battle through a storm.
But I believe in Britain.
I believe in the British people.
And I know that brighter days lie ahead.
Today is Tuesday, which means the free community meal will be happening from 5pm!
Come along to West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre – there’s no need to book and everyone is welcome! 
People Know How and Edinburgh Palette are delighted to present the Connect Four space, a space for cross-sectoral collaboration and social innovation that is now open to new tenant enquiries from any groups or organisations looking for office space.
On Thursday 24 November, we’re opening our doors to the public for our Connect Four Open House at 1 Waterfront Avenue. All are welcome to come and get a first look at the space, from prospective tenants looking to lease desk space to those interested in learning more about the Connect Four ethos.
Located in the heart of North Edinburgh’s evolving Waterfront area, this beautiful bright space has views across the city skyline and the Firth of Forth and boasts a broad range of amenities including access to a café, bookable meeting space, break-out spaces, and more.
Within this space we aim to connect four by bringing organisations and groups together across the four sectors (third, public, academic and business). By working alongside one another, we will create an environment that is conducive to social innovation through new collaborations, opportunities and ideas that can solve social issues across Scotland.
Office Manager Alex Derbyshire said: “We’re very excited to welcome new tenants to this beautiful space and are looking forward to sharing more information about the space and our Connect Four ethos during our open house.”
Our Eventbrite is now live for you to book your free ticket.
The space will be open to visitors between 10:00am and 3:00pm, with a special session about Connect Four taking place at 10:30am.
Book your free ticket: https://connect-four-open-house.eventbrite.co.uk
